A rocket launched from Lebanon tragically hit a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday, resulting in the loss of at least 10 lives, including several young individuals. The Israeli emergency rescue service, Magen David Adom, reported that 19 people were wounded, with some sustaining severe injuries, in the Druze village of Majdal Shams.
Idan Avshalom, a paramedic with Magen David Adom, described the scene at the soccer field as “gruesome,” with bodies on the ground and fires burning. He mentioned that the casualties were between the ages of 10 and 20 years old. Immediate triage was conducted, and the injured were evacuated to local clinics.
While Israel has been engaged in a conflict with Hamas in Gaza, a new front opened up in the north involving the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. Despite Hezbollah denying responsibility for the rocket strike, Israeli military assessments and intelligence suggested otherwise.
Although Hezbollah denied involvement, the Israeli military attributed the attack to them. The situation in the region remains tense, with both Israel and Lebanon cautious not to escalate the conflict further, as any misstep could lead to a wider war.
The local council of Majdal Shams described the incident as a “dark day” for the village and urged residents to remain indoors. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States for meetings with President Biden and former President Trump, held an emergency security meeting in response to the attack.
Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon was contributed by Euan Ward.
