Golan Heights: Mourning for dead children after rocket strike – fear of escalation

Note: This article has been updated several times.

After the deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights, Iran is sending contradictory signals about a possible escalation of the war with Israel and Hezbollah. The Iranian Foreign Ministry blamed Israel itself for the attack in Majdal Shams, in which several children and young people were killed. “This massacre is a war against humanity and violates all internationally recognized laws and regulations,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, according to the Isna news agency. Israel, on the other hand, blamed the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which denied any responsibility.

Israel is already retaliating

In retaliation, Israel says it has attacked several targets in Lebanon. These include weapons depots belonging to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. The incident sparked international fears of an escalation of violence in the region. UN representatives urged both parties to exercise “the greatest possible restraint.” The USA and the EU also condemned the attack.

At least twelve children and young people were killed in the rocket attack. This was reported by Israeli media and a high-ranking official in the Israeli Foreign Ministry. They died in a direct hit in the Arab village of Majdal Shams, the Magen David Adom rescue service said in an updated report. 20 other young people were injured in the attack on a football field. The Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, spoke of the “deadliest attack against Israeli civilians since October 7”.

Israel accuses Hezbollah

Hagari explained that the missile was an Iranian-made Falak-1 rocket with a 50 kilogram warhead. This model is “exclusively owned by Hezbollah.” “The terrorist organization Hezbollah is behind the rocket attack on a soccer field in Majdal Shams,” said the Israeli army. Hezbollah fired around 40 rockets from Lebanon into the Golan Heights. “Hezbollah terrorists today brutally attacked and murdered children whose only crime was to go out to play soccer. They have not returned,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

“There is no doubt that Hezbollah has crossed all red lines,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12 television. “We are facing a full-scale war.” This could entail high costs for Israel, but the costs for Hezbollah would be even higher, warned the chief diplomat. Shortly afterwards, Israel announced a “response.” “We will prepare for a response against Hezbollah, we will complete our assessments and we will act,” said military spokesman Daniel Hagari.

Hezbollah has “no connection” to strike on Golan Heights

In a statement, Hezbollah said it had nothing to do with the incident. “The Islamic Resistance has no connection with this incident,” Hezbollah said, referring to its military wing.

Following the impact, Lebanon’s caretaker government condemned “all acts of violence and attacks against civilians.” It called for an “immediate end to hostilities on all fronts,” the caretaker government said, according to the state news agency NNA. Attacks against civilians are a “blatant violation of international law.”

Lebanon has meanwhile asked the US to exert a moderating influence on Israel. A significant Israeli attack on his country could trigger a regional war, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told the Reuters news agency. In return, his government should convey a US appeal for moderation to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

Expert: Rocket did not come from Israel’s defense system

Hezbollah is said to have told the United Nations that an Israeli anti-aircraft missile caused the explosion. This was reported by the news site Axios, citing US government officials.

A military expert for the Middle East considers this theory to be very unlikely. The founder of the military institute INEGMA in Dubai, Riad Kahwadschi, told the DPA that the large explosion in the town of Majal Shams indicates a “large warhead”.

The warheads used in the Iron Dome defense system are usually smaller, said Kahwaji. “Their aim is to detonate a rocket in the air during an attack on Israeli territory.” But the explosion in Majdal Shams was significantly larger, said Kahwaji. He also said he was not aware of any incident in which an Israeli defense missile had killed so many people. This scenario would only be possible if many people were standing close together.

Fighting on the border with Lebanon is becoming increasingly fierce

Israeli military expert Sarit Zehavi pointed out that the Shiite militia had previously claimed responsibility for attacks on an Israeli military base on Mount Hermon. “It is very easy to miss the base on Mount Hermon with inaccurate rockets such as the Falak,” she said. Majdal Shams is located directly below it.

The Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah have been fighting almost daily since the start of the Gaza war. Recently, the intensity has increased significantly. There have already been deaths on both sides. Hezbollah says it is acting out of solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There have long been fears that the conflict could escalate.

The village that was attacked is mainly inhabited by Druze. The Arabic-speaking religious community emerged from Shiite Islam in the 11th century and today lives mainly in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.

The Golan Heights are a strategically important rocky plateau, about 60 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide. Israel conquered the region in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. However, this is not internationally recognized; the areas are considered Israeli-occupied Syrian territory.