On Saturday, at least 11 people, the majority young adults and children between 10 and 20, were killed after a Hezbollah rocket struck a soccer field in Golan Heights, which is currently under Israel’s control.
The strike marks the deadliest attack on Israel since Hamas’ incursion on Oct. 7, which kicked off the war in Gaza.
The Lebanese terror group targeted the northern Druze town of Majdal Shams, according to Israeli officials, per the New York Post. They argued that the attack could be the escalation that ramps up the ongoing war even further.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and confirmed that “Hezbollah crossed all red lines” and that Israel was now “facing an all-out war” with the terrorist organization.
“I have no doubt that we’ll pay a cost,” Katz said, but added that Hezbollah will pay the greater cost. Katz also claimed that when Israel retaliates, it will have the “full backing” of the United States and Europe.
“Our intelligence is clear. Hezbollah is responsible for the killing of innocent children,” said Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari, per Al Jazeera. “We will prepare for a response against Hezbollah … we will act.”
Hezbollah, meanwhile, has denied involvement, saying in a statement that it “categorically denies the allegations reported by certain enemy media and various media platforms concerning the targeting of Majdal Shams.”
The attack, however, comes hours after an Israeli airstrike in south Lebanon killed three Hezbollah members.
The Biden administration expressed concern at the prospect of the attack heightening the war, with one official telling Axios, “What happened today could be the trigger we have been worried about and tried to avoid for 10 months.”
Netanyahu was still in the United States at the time word of the attack came out, and rushed back to his home country, moving his flight up by three and a half hours.
Netanyahu had addressed Congress on Wednesday and had separate meetings with President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was updated earlier today on details of the incident in Majdal Shams. The PM is currently holding an additional security consultation with his Military Secretary and will hold a security assessment later with heads of the security establishment,” Netanyahu’s office said on X.
“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,” a follow-up post reported.
The Post reported that as many as 40 people were injured in the attack, and several were listed in critical condition. Idan Avshalom, of Israel’s national emergency service, stated that the injured were taken to three local clinics.
“I left a nearby kibbutz and arrived at the scene within a few minutes. I saw a large commotion on the soccer field, with severe scenes of casualties and fatalities, destruction and burning objects,” he said according to a Facebook post.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) issued a statement on X, saying, “Since October 7, Hezbollah has been bombarding Israel with rockets, displacing up to [100,000] Israelis and terrorizing many more. The murder of [these] children is the latest manifestation of Hezbollah’s unrelenting terror.”
Torres has been a longtime defender of Israel, standing apart from many within his party who have denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as the war continues.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
