IRIA News

At least 12 people were killed and 19 others wounded in a rocket attack on a football pitch in Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to Israeli authorities. The attack, that occurred on July 27, 2024, has escalated tensions in the region, raising fears of a broader conflict.

The Golan Heights, a strategic 1,200 square kilometer plateau, is Syrian territory that Israel occupied in 1967 during the Six-Day War and later annexed in 1981, a move not recognized internationally. The area is home to many Syrian Druze residents, some of whom hold Israeli citizenship.

In response to the rocket attacks, the Israeli military conducted strikes in Lebanon’s southern region. Israel’s Defense Force announced Israel’s actions were in retaliation for a rocket strike from Lebanon.

Israel’s military spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that children were among the victims and accused the Lebanese group Hezbollah of carrying out the attack. “Our intelligence is clear. Hezbollah is responsible for the killing of innocent children,” Hagari stated. “We will prepare for a response against Hezbollah … we will act.”

Hezbollah, however, swiftly denied any involvement. In a statement, the group said it “categorically denies the allegations reported by certain enemy media and various media platforms concerning the targeting of Majdal Shams.” The group, referring to its military wing, added, “The Islamic Resistance has no connection to this incident.”

The attack comes amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have been exchanging fire since October 8. This conflict began shortly after Israel launched its war on Gaza, prompting Hezbollah to engage in cross-border attacks in solidarity with the Palestinian people. This has led to increased fears of a larger regional conflict.

In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would cut short his trip to the United States, where he was meeting with senior U.S. officials. “Immediately upon learning of the disaster in Majdal Shams, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that his return to Israel be brought forward as quickly as possible,” his office stated on social media. Netanyahu also told the leader of the Druze community in Israel that “Hezbollah will pay a heavy price, the kind it has thus far not paid.”

The White House National Security Council condemned the rocket attack, reiterating its strong support for Israel’s security. “Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah,” a spokesperson stated.

Lebanon’s government called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts” and condemned attacks on civilians. The attack on the football pitch is one of the deadliest single incidents since the cross-border fire began, according to Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, who reported from Qatar. She noted that both sides are preparing for further conflict, despite neither side wanting an all-out war.

The rocket strike on the football pitch occurred after an Israeli attack in Lebanon earlier that day, which killed four fighters. Two security sources in Lebanon identified the deceased as members of various armed groups, including at least one Hezbollah member. The Israeli military stated that its aircraft targeted a military structure belonging to Hezbollah, having identified fighters entering the building. Hezbollah responded with at least four attacks, including the use of Katyusha rockets.

The rocket attack on Saturday, described by Israeli authorities as the deadliest strike on Israeli civilians since the start of the conflict, has deepened fears of an escalating war. “There is no doubt that Hezbollah has crossed all the red lines here, and the response will reflect that,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told media. “We are nearing the moment in which we face an all-out war.”

Footage aired on Israeli Channel 12 showed a large blast at the football pitch in Majdal Shams. Ha’il Mahmoud, a resident, described how children were playing soccer when the rocket hit. “A siren was heard seconds before the rocket hit, but there was no time to take shelter,” he said.

The violence on Saturday occurred as Israel and Hamas were reportedly considering a ceasefire proposal to end the nearly 10-month war in Gaza, which began with a Hamas attack on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage. Israel’s subsequent offensive has resulted in over 39,000 deaths, according to local health authorities.

The ongoing conflict has claimed more than 450 lives in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah members, along with around 90 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 44 people have been killed, including at least 21 soldiers.