Twelve Israeli youths dead from Hezbollah soccer field strike: IDF

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman confirmed Saturday that at least 12 Israelis have died and dozens more are injured after a rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. All of those killed are between the ages of 10 and 20.

“We share the grief of the families of the victims and embrace the entire Druze community at this difficult time,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. “We send strength to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery.

“From the initial inquiry into the incident, an alert was activated, but it was an immediate alert that was too short,” he continued. “From the IAF’s inquiry, at the moment it appears that this was a single rocket. We are now looking into this in-depth and will release the details transparently to the public.”

Hagari placed the responsibility for the attack squarely on Hezbollah, though the Iranian-backed, Lebanese-based group has denied having a role in the tragedy. Shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel. The two sides have continued to engage in cross-border fires, with an all-out war viewed as an escalating possibility.

“In the past hour, Hezbollah has been lying and denying its responsibility for the incident,” Hagari said. “Our intelligence is clear – Hezbollah is responsible for killing innocent children. Ten-year-old children. And once again, the brutality of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was exposed. This is a very serious incident and we will act accordingly. The IDF will do everything to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States this week to make his case and shore up support amid his country’s war against Hamas, said Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, one that it has not paid so far,” according to his office.

White House National Security Council officials spoke out against the attack as well, telling the Washington Examiner in a statement, “We condemn this horrific attack that reportedly killed a number of teenagers and children playing soccer on a Saturday evening in the village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones today, and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured.

“Israel continues to face severe threats to its security, as the world saw today, and the United States will continue to support efforts to end these terrible attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority,” the statement continued. “Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah.”

The attack, the deadliest in the northern territory since the fighting started, has stoked fears of escalation.

“What happened today could be the trigger we have been worried about and tried to avoid for 10 months,” one U.S. official told Axios.

Hezbollah is believed to have a larger and more sophisticated arsenal than Hamas. An all-out war would likely include heavy casualties and damage to both sides.

“Hezbollah’s provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that they do not want,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon, and it would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians. Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation.”

Israel and Hezbollah last went to war in 2006, and the conflict lasted about a month. Hezbollah is violating the United Nations Security Council resolution that ended that war, which bars the group from maintaining a presence south of the Litani River, located roughly 18 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border.

The Golan Heights territory has been under Israeli control since the 1967 war with Syria. It is home to around 20,000 Druze Arabs.

This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Mike Brest contributed to this reporting.