In a tragic turn of events, at least 11 lives were lost, including innocent children, when multiple rockets struck a village in the Golan Heights on Saturday. Israel has labeled this as the deadliest attack since October 7, attributing it to the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah has vehemently denied any involvement in the assault.
The village of Majdal Shams, located in the northern Golan Heights and inhabited by a large Druze community, bore the brunt of the attack with 29 individuals sustaining injuries. This region, seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 and officially annexed in 1981, harbors a diverse population split between Israeli settlers and Druze Arabs who identify as Syrian and have declined Israeli citizenship offers.
Amidst the chaos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expedited his return from the US, where he was visiting, to address the situation. The Israeli Government Press Office confirmed that he would hold an emergency security cabinet meeting upon arrival. President Isaac Herzog expressed deep sorrow over the incident and vowed to protect Israeli citizens against such senseless violence.
The recent escalation follows a string of confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah, with tensions running high along the border. Both sides have traded fire for almost a year, raising concerns of an imminent conflict. The situation worsened following the killing of two Hezbollah commanders by Israel, sparking retaliatory missile attacks.
As the world watches in horror, the White House has condemned the attack, reaffirming unwavering support for Israel. The EU has called for an international investigation to ascertain the facts and avoid further escalation in this volatile region.
This story is still unfolding, with more updates expected to come. Stay tuned for the latest developments.
