At least 12 killed, including children, in Golan Heights as Israel blames Hezbollah for rocket attack

Majdal Shams, Golan Heights – A devastating rocket attack on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday has left at least 12 people dead, including several children, and many more injured. The incident has heightened tensions in an already volatile region, with Israel blaming the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for the assault, a claim which Hezbollah has denied.

According to Israeli emergency services, the rocket struck the soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams, causing a scene of chaos and destruction. The Magen David Adom paramedic service reported that alongside the fatalities, 19 others were injured, with several in critical condition. The ages of the victims ranged from 10 to 20 years old, highlighting the tragic loss of young lives.

"This is a horrific scene," said an Avom, a paramedic with Magen David Adom. "We promptly initiated triage; numerous victims were transported to nearby clinics," he added, noting that air raid sirens were still blaring as emergency personnel worked to assist the injured.

The Israeli military swiftly attributed the attack to Hezbollah, stating that intelligence indicated the group's involvement. "The Hezbollah terrorist organization is behind the rocket launch at a soccer field in Majdal Shams which caused multiple civilian casualties, including children, earlier this evening," said Chief spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. He emphasized that the group was lying about its involvement.

Hezbollah, however, firmly denied the accusations. "We categorically deny carrying out an attack on Majdal Shams," said Mohammed Afif, the group's chief spokesman, in a statement to The Associated Press. This denial has done little to ease the rising tensions, with Israeli officials vowing a strong response.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States at the time of the attack, cut short his trip to return to Israel. He convened an emergency security meeting to address the situation. "We are facing an all-out war," said Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Israel's Channel 12 news, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The attack on the soccer field occurred just hours after an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed three Hezbollah fighters. This exchange of hostilities is part of a broader pattern of violence that has escalated since October, when the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza reignited. The ongoing conflict has seen near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Hezbollah claimed that its militants had fired Katyusha rockets at an Israeli military post in the Golan Heights in response to the Israeli airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon. The group reported that three of its members were killed on Saturday, though it did not specify the location. The Israeli military stated that its air force had targeted a Hezbollah arms depot in the border village of Kfar Kila, asserting that militants were present at the time of the strike.

The Golan Heights, a strategically significant plateau, has been under Israeli control since it was captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and was later annexed in 1981. The region's status remains a contentious issue, with the United Nations and most of the international community not recognizing Israel's annexation.

The recent attack in Majdal Shams is the deadliest on an Israeli target since the renewed hostilities began in October. The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties on both sides. According to local health authorities, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed more than 450 people, mostly Hezbollah members, but also around 90 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 21 soldiers and 13 civilians had been killed before Saturday's attack.

The incident has sparked fears of a broader conflagration in the region, with both Israel and Hezbollah expressing readiness for further escalation. However, both parties have also shown a degree of caution, possibly to avoid a full-scale war. The international community watches with bated breath as the situation continues to unfold, hoping for a de-escalation of violence and a return to peace.