Rocket Strike Kills 10 on Football Pitch in Golan Heights
A devastating rocket attack on a football pitch in Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, has killed 10 people, including children, and injured 13 more. The strike happened on Saturday, with Israeli officials blaming Hezbollah for the assault. However, the Lebanese group denies any involvement.
Horrific Scene at Local Sports Venue
The rocket was fired from Lebanon, wreaking havoc on the local sports ground. Idan Avshalom, a medic from the Magen David Adom ambulance service, described the chaotic aftermath. We witnessed great destruction when we arrived at the soccer field, as well as items that were on fire. There were casualties on the grass and the scene was gruesome,” he said.
A witness told Reuters, “It landed in the soccer pitch, all of them are children… many bodies and remains are in the field; we don’t know who they are.”
Cycle of Violence: Airstrikes and Rocket Barrages
The deadly rocket strike follows an earlier Israeli airstrike in Lebanon that killed four militants, including at least one Hezbollah member, according to Lebanese security sources. In retaliation, Israeli military reports say at least 30 rockets were launched from Lebanon.
Hezbollah, accused of carrying out the rocket attack on Majdal Shams, firmly denies the allegations. A Hezbollah spokesperson said, “The Islamic Resistance has absolutely nothing to do with the incident, and categorically denies all false allegations in this regard.”
Tensions Surge in Contested Golan Heights
This brutal exchange signals a sharp rise in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, reviving fears of a wider conflict. The Golan Heights, seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981—a move not recognised internationally—remains a flashpoint in the volatile Middle East.