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At least 11 people, some of them children, were reported killed in a rocket attack on a football pitch in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, heightening fears of a broader conflict.
Israel accused Iran-backed Hezbollah of the strike and vowed a response. The Lebanese group denied responsibility.
It was the deadliest strike in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to reports.
Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire in areas along the Lebanon-Israel border and Saturday’s attack fanned fears of a full-blown war between the adversaries.
“The Hezbollah terrorist organization is behind the rocket launch at a soccer field in Majdal Shams which caused multiple civilian casualties, including children,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X late Saturday. The IDF said it was preparing a response to the rocket attack.
In addition to the 11 deaths, Israel’s emergency services said 19 more people were injured in the assault, Reuters reported.
“We witnessed great destruction when we arrived at the soccer field, as well as items that were on fire. There were casualties on the grass and the scene was gruesome,” Idan Avshalom, a medic with the Magen David Adom ambulance service, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Hezbollah chief spokesman Mohammed Afif told the Associated Press that the group “categorically denies carrying out an attack on Majdal Shams.”
But Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, said on X that “reliable intelligence information available to the IDF” indicated that Hezbollah was behind the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been on a trip to the U.S., has brought forward his return home, the BBC reported. He was briefed by aides on Saturday, the broadcasteer said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Israel’s Channel 12 news: “We are facing an all-out war,” according to the BBC report. “The Hezbollah attack today crossed all red lines, and the response will be accordingly,” Katz told Axios.
The Majdal Shams attack followed an Israeli strike on Lebanon that killed four militants. Hezbollah fired rockets at other Israeli military positions in response to that, according to reports, but the group denied involvement in the Majdal Shams attack.
