Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at Israel, with at least one striking a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a northern town near the Syrian border. Initial reports confirm that the attack resulted in at least ten fatalities and 29 injuries, many of whom are believed to be children.
The soccer field, located in the predominantly Druze town, has become a scene of tragic violence. This incident marks the deadliest attack in northern Israel since Hezbollah joined the conflict on behalf of Hamas on October 7. The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported that the victims ranged in age from 10 to 20 years old.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) quickly attributed the rocket strike to Hezbollah. In a statement, the IDF confirmed,” Based on our situational assessment and intelligence, the rocket launch towards Majdal Shams was executed by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. This attack resulted in multiple civilian casualties, including children.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently in the U.S., is receiving updates and participating in situational assessments regarding the attack. The IDF has advised residents of northern Israel to stay in shelters as a precautionary measure. Israel’ss Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant and theIDF’ss Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, are actively assessing the situation.
The IDF reported that approximately 30 projectiles were detected crossing into Israel from Lebanon on Saturday. Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, effectively controls Lebanon.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz indicated on TV news that Israel might be approaching a full-scale war with Hezbollah.” We are nearing the point of an all-out conflict in the north against Hezbollah, and we will respond with disproportionate force,” Katz was quoted as saying by Israeli journalists Ben Caspit and Dafna Liel on X (formerly Twitter).
Earlier this month, Yakkov Amidror, former national security adviser to Netanyahu, discussed with Fox News Digital the potential for a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Jason Brodsky, an expert on Iran and its proxies, noted that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had hinted at targeting “a “new area” in Israel.
Brodsky suggested that the strike on Majdal Shams, a less populated Druze town, might have been intended to provoke a response.” This attack could significantly alter the dynamics in the north due to the heavy civilian casualties, including children,” Brodsky explained.” Hezbollah’s perception of U.S. constraints on Israeli actions may have been misguided, as such attacks tend to provoke the very escalation they seek to avoid.”
