Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the attack, which was the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the Gaza conflict.
Risk of all-out conflict
The attack has escalated tensions in the region, where daily fighting between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah is taking place alongside the war in Gaza. And the latest incident continues to raise fears of a full-scale conflict between the heavily armed Middle East factions.
A rocket hits a football field in Majdal Shams, Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, July 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters
The rocket hit a football field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, territory Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognized by most countries.
"Hezbollah will pay a heavy price, a price it has not paid so far," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a phone call with leaders of Israel's Druze community, according to a statement from his office.
"The Islamic Resistance Movement has absolutely nothing to do with the incident and categorically denies any false accusations related to this incident," Hezbollah said in a written statement. Hezbollah has previously claimed responsibility for several rocket attacks on Israeli military positions.
The Israeli ambulance service said 13 other people were injured when the rocket hit the football field, which was packed with children and teenagers.
"They were playing football, they heard the sirens and ran to the shelter... it took maybe 15 seconds (to reach the shelter). But they couldn't reach the shelter because the missile hit somewhere between the ground and the shelter," said Mourhaf Abu Saleh, a witness.
Footage posted on social media shows the moment the missile struck. Air raid sirens can be heard, followed by a large explosion and images of smoke rising.
"There were casualties on the lawn and the scene was horrific," said Idan Avshalom, a paramedic with the Magen David Adom ambulance service who was at the scene.
Several militant groups have attacked Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was due to return to Israel from the US on Saturday night, said he would depart on an early flight and convene his security cabinet upon arrival. The US condemned the attack as a horrific attack and said its support for Israel's security was "steadfast and steadfast".
Bicycles damaged by a rocket attack at a football field in Majdal Shams, Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, July 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters
The Israeli military said the missile was launched from an area north of the village of Chebaa in southern Lebanon. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the missile was an Iranian-made Falaq-1. Hezbollah had earlier claimed to have fired a Falaq-1 missile on Saturday and said the target was an Israeli military headquarters.
The attack on the stadium followed an Israeli air strike in Lebanon that killed four militants on Saturday. The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted a Hezbollah military facility after detecting a group of militants infiltrating the building.
Hezbollah is the most powerful militant group in the Middle East and has been fighting in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas since October.
Militant groups in Iraq and Yemen's Houthis have both launched attacks on Israel. Hamas has also launched rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon, as has the Lebanese militant group Jama'a Islamiya.
About 40,000 people live on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, more than half of whom are Druze. The Druze are an Arab minority that practices a branch of Islam.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ten-lua-khien-12-nguoi-thiet-mang-tai-san-bong-da-o-cao-nguyen-golan-israel-tuyen-bo-se-dap-tra-post305223.html
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