Israeli media reports 10 children, teens dead after Hezbollah attack

In a tragic escalation of cross-border violence, ten people, primarily children and teenagers, were killed on Saturday when a rocket struck a football pitch in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to Israeli media reports.

The attack, which hit the Druze village of Majdal Shams, marks the deadliest incident in months of ongoing tensions between Israel and armed groups in Lebanon.

Israel’s N12 News reported the death toll according to Reuters, while the Israeli military attributed the rocket attack to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah has vehemently denied any involvement in the strike on Majdal Shams.

The incident occurred amidst a series of retaliatory attacks following an earlier Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed four militants. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their aircraft had targeted a Hezbollah military structure in Kfarkila after identifying militants entering the building.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and destruction at the football pitch. Magen David Adom (MDA) told Reuters that paramedics treated critically injured individuals, aged 10 to 20, with some transferred to local clinics. Evacuation helicopters, ambulances, and intensive care units were dispatched to the scene to assist with the emergency response.

Israeli authorities have instructed residents in the northern Golan and Upper Galilee to stay close to protected areas, highlighting the ongoing security concerns in the region.

The attack on Majdal Shams prompted a swift response from Israeli authorities. The IDF released a statement attributing the rocket launch to Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah issued a categorical denial of any involvement in the attack.

The conflicting claims and denials highlight the complex and volatile nature of the ongoing conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border. Since October, when Hamas‘ attack on southern Israel triggered the Gaza war, Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in their worst escalation since 2006.

Saturday’s events unfolded against a backdrop of increasing violence. According to Israeli sources, Hezbollah launched multiple rockets toward communities in the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. The organization claimed these attacks were in response to the killing of militants in southern Lebanon earlier in the day.