The death toll has risen to 14 and the wounded to 34, 17 of them in critical condition, in the raid that Israel blames on Hezbollah – and for which the group denies any responsibility – that hit a soccer field in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights. The victims are all between the ages of 10 and 20.
According to what was written in X by the spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, Daniel Hagari, “the incident that occurred today is the most serious for innocent citizens, 11 children killeda national disaster that has befallen the State of Israel. Hezbollah is behind this disaster and is responsible for its consequences.”
IDF: “Hezbollah Behind Majdal Shams Attack”
“Hezbollah is behind the rocket launch that hit the Majdal Shams soccer field and caused many civilian casualties, including children, this evening.” This is what the Israel Defense Forces claim, which, “following assessments made in the IDF and intelligence available to us,” affirm that “the rocket launch at Majdal Shams was carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah.” In a statement, it denied any responsibility.
Hezbollah: “False accuse”
But Hezbollah denies it and in a statement claims that it “is not in no way related to the accident and categorically rejects all false accusations.” The Times of Israel recalls that Hezbollah had previously claimed responsibility for firing dozens of rockets at an Israeli army base near Majdal Shams.
Following the raid on the Golan Heights, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called a meeting with Army Chief of Staff General Herzl Halevi and other defense officials.
“Crossed the red line”
“There is no doubt that Hezbollah has crossed all the red lines, we are facing an all-out war”Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12, reporting that he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attack on Majdal Shams. “I have no doubt that we will pay a price,” he said, and that Israel will have the “full support” of the United States and Europe.
Security sources: ‘No war with Hezbollah’
Israel will respond forcefully to Hezbollah’s attack on Majdan Shams, “but we do not intend to start a war,” an Israeli security source told Sky News Arabic, the Times of Israel reports.
Netanyahu returns from the US
Following the attack on Majdal Shams that cost the lives of ten people, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brought forward his return from the United States by a few hours, where he is still visiting. This was reported on X by Barak Ravid, a journalist for Axios, according to whom Netanyahu will leave at 7:30 p.m. American time, 1:30 a.m. in Italy.
The prime minister, his office said, was engaged in security consultations immediately after the attack.
Immediately upon his return from the United States, Netanyahu will convene a Security cabinet meeting to discuss attack in Majdal Shams, where 11 children and young people were killed. This was announced by his office, which later denied, calling them “completely false”, the reports according to which the prime minister “had decided to anticipate his return to the country following the criticism”. “The prime minister decided to anticipate his return immediately after being informed of the terrible disaster in Majdal Shams and updated the defense minister accordingly before the false criticism appeared in the media”.
According to Israeli media reports, the security cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. GMT) at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Herzog: “The world cannot remain silent”
“The world cannot continue to sit silently in the face of Nasrallah’s terrorist attacks, which come on behalf of the evil empire in Iran. The State of Israel will firmly defend its citizens and its sovereignty,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote in a post on X, calling “the terrible and shocking disaster in the Druze village of Majdal Shams heartbreaking, there are no words that can comfort the families of the young victims who lost their lives through no fault of their own.”
“Hezbollah, armed and financed by Iran, makes no distinction between child or adult, soldier or civilian, Jew or Muslim, Druze or Christian,” Herzog denounces. “Today, Hezbollah terrorists brutally attacked and killed children whose only crime was going to play football. They did not return.”