Washington agrees with Tel Aviv in holding Hezbollah responsible for the missile that hit the Golan Heights, killing 12 people, mostly children and teenagers who were near a football field in the town of Majdal Shams. About 30 people were injured, three of them very seriously. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Tokyo, said that ‘all indications’ point to Hezbollah. However, the Lebanese organisation has denied involvement. According to the Guardian, the Lebanese authorities asked the US to moderate Israel’s reaction, receiving in response a request to curb Hezbollah’s attacks against Israel.
Statements by the Israeli Defence Minister
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant expressed his condolences for the young victims of the attack in Majdal Shams, emphasising the coexistence of Druze, Jews and Israeli Arabs in the country and the common suffering caused by Hezbollah’s terrorism. Gallant stated that Hezbollah, acting on behalf of Iran, will pay a price for this loss.
Israeli Raids on Lebanon
In response to the attack, Israeli fighter planes struck a number of Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon overnight. The Israeli army confirmed on X that terrorist infrastructure in the areas of Shabriha, Burj a-Shamali, Bakaa, Kfar Kila, Rab a-Taltin, al-Khyam and Tir Harfa were hit. The raids were a response to the rocket launched from Lebanon towards Majdal Shams, causing at least 12 deaths and over 30 injured, six of them in critical condition.
Accusation of Hezbollah commander
Despite Hezbollah’s denial, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) attributed the attack to Lebanese terrorist group commander Ali Muhammad Yihye. IDF spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari cited the use of an Iranian-made Falaq 1 rocket, carrying over 50 kilos of explosives, as evidence of Hezbollah involvement. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, confirmed Ali Muhammad Yahya’s involvement and reiterated that Hezbollah was responsible for the massacre in Majdal Shams and the killing of children and youths on the football field.
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved