Israel conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon early Sunday morning. This comes in response to a rocket attack on Saturday that claimed the lives of 12 children and young adults playing football in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, specifically in the Druze town of Majdal Shams.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the airstrikes targeted seven Hezbollah positions “deep inside Lebanese territory,” though it remains unclear if there were any casualties. The IDF attributes the deadly rocket strike to Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militant group, which has denied any involvement.
The tragic incident in Majdal Shams marked the most severe loss of life along Israel’s northern border since October. Video footage from the scene showed a frantic rush to transport the injured to ambulances, highlighting the chaos and grief following the attack. Thousands gathered in the town on Sunday for the funerals of the victims, ten of whom were children aged between 10 and 16. The identity of an eleventh victim has been released, but their age was not disclosed. The details of the twelfth casualty remain unconfirmed.
The recent violence is part of a broader escalation since October 7, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, prompting a fierce Israeli military response in Gaza. In solidarity with the Palestinians, Hezbollah has carried out sporadic attacks, including firing rockets into Israeli territory. On Saturday, hours before the IDF’s retaliation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that those responsible for the Golan Heights attack would “pay a heavy price.”
Despite Hezbollah’s spokesperson Mohamad Afif denying the group’s involvement in the Golan Heights strike, Israeli officials remain unconvinced. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has acknowledged responsibility for four other attacks, including one targeting a military compound near Mount Hermon, on the border between Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
