11 people were killed in Majdal Shams, and Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah to “pay a heavy price”

On Saturday, Israeli media announced that 11 people were killed as a result of a missile fired from Lebanon landing on a football field in the occupied Syrian Golan, and reported dozens of injuries. While Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack, the occupation threatened it with a harsh and dramatic response.

Sources reported that 11 Israeli boys were killed when a missile fired from Lebanon fell on Majdal Shams in the Golan. The Israeli ambulance said that the number of injured reached 30, including 7 in critical condition.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper also quoted the Israeli ambulance as saying that 30 people were injured in the attack on Majdal Shams and that “the situation is very tragic.”

Scenes published by Israeli news pages on Telegram showed the deployment of Israeli police and ambulance personnel at the site of the missile fall.

The Israeli Walla website said that planes and helicopters filled the skies in the north of the country, and residents of the Golan were asked to remain in protected areas.

Israeli Army Radio said that 11 wounded - including 5 in serious condition - were taken to hospitals as a result of the fall of a march from southern Lebanon north of the Golan Heights.

I had difficulty

Israel Today newspaper said that a preliminary investigation indicates that air defense systems had difficulty intercepting the missiles in Majdal Shams in the Golan.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted sources as saying, “Majdal Shams was not ready for a difficult attack, its residents were not evacuated, and it is not fortified.”

Israeli media said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is conducting security consultations from Washington after being informed of the details of the incident in Majdal Shams."

Israeli Channel 12 quoted an official close to Netanyahu as saying that the attack on Majdal Shams will lead to a dramatic shift in the confrontations in the north.

Israeli media added that Defense Minister Yoav Galant is holding consultations with army commanders after the bombing in the Galilee and the Golan.

Channel 12 also quoted Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz as saying, “Hezbollah has crossed red lines.”

The Walla website said that towns in the Haifa District have alerted residents that changes may occur to the Home Front instructions in the coming hours.

"Israel Today" quoted military officials as saying that the response to the Majdal Shams attack "will be broad and we will be forced to consider going to war."

An Israeli security source told the Broadcasting Authority, "What happened will not go unanswered, and our response will be harsh."

Hezbollah denies

While Hezbollah's media relations official, Muhammad Afif, told Reuters, "categorically denied the allegations reported by some enemy media outlets about our targeting of Majdal Shams," Reuters quoted an Israeli military official as saying, "Hezbollah was the one who launched the missile that fell on a football field in the Golan." .

The Israeli army spokesman confirmed this by saying, "Hezbollah was behind the firing of a rocket at a football field in Majdal Shams in the Golan."

The leader of the Israeli State Camp party, Benny Gantz, also said that “the time has come to conclude an exchange deal” with the resistance in Gaza “and direct the escalation to the northern front.”

The Walla website quoted Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir as saying, "He asks the prime minister to launch a war against Hezbollah immediately."

For his part, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, "The time has come for action. Netanyahu must return immediately, and all of Lebanon must pay the price," and demanded "the assassination of Nasrallah in response to the attack."

He is in a hurry to return

In turn, Israeli Channel 12 reported from officials that Netanyahu is considering shortening his visit to Washington in the wake of the Majdal Shams events. Channel 13 also reported that Netanyahu ordered his companions to prepare to return to Israel as soon as possible after the attack.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that Netanyahu issued instructions to expedite the return from Washington as soon as possible, and that he "conducted preliminary consultations with his military secretary immediately after the Majdal Shams disaster."

In his first statement after the incident, Netanyahu said that Hezbollah "will pay a heavy price for the Majdal Shams attack, the likes of which it has never paid before." His office said that he spoke with the leader of the Druze community and expressed his "shock at the killing of innocent people."

In Beirut, the office of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that his government “condemns acts of violence against civilians and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts.”

Axios also quoted an American official as saying, "The attack on Majdal Shams may be the spark that we have been fearing and trying to avoid for 10 months," adding that "the administration of US President Joe Biden is very concerned that the Majdal Shams attack will lead to an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah."

Hagari's statements

In the first official comments on the attack, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, “What happened in Majdal Shams is very dangerous and we will respond in a manner appropriate,” adding, “We are preparing a response against Hezbollah.”

He explained that army information indicates that Hezbollah is responsible for launching a missile at a football field in Majdal Shams, "which is a difficult event."

He pointed out, "The residents of Majdal Shams were previously warned, but we are investigating the incident in a transparent and thorough manner," and said that all those killed in Majdal Shams were children.

Hagari said that one missile was fired and sirens sounded shortly before it fell.

(Al Jazeera + agencies)