'Israel Faces All-Out War' after Hezbollah Rocket Kills Children, Teenagers in Golan
JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel says Hezbollah rockets scored a direct hit on a soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights Saturday, killing at least twelve people, including children and teenagers who were playing on the field. Dozens were reported injured.
It was the deadliest attack by Hezbollah on northern Israel since the Hamas massacre and kidnappings last October.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12 News "There is no doubt that Hezbollah crossed all red lines" in the attack. He added, "Israel faces all-out war."
Katz said he has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is still in the U.S. because of plans to return to Israel after the Jewish Sabbath.
Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday afternoon and will immediately convene a Security Cabinet meeting.
He issued a statement, saying, "We embrace the families and the entire Druze community in its difficult hour, which is also our difficult hour."
Netanyahu added, "I can say that the State of Israel will not let this pass in silence. We will not overlook this."
The Druze are a religious sect that believes in elements of Islam, Hinduism and Greek philosophy. They are Arabic-speaking, and most are not Israeli citizens, although some serve in the Israel Defense Forces and others serve in the government.
The Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Muafak Tarif said in a statement, "It’s impossible to image and describe the horrific images of children and their smashed (body) parts strewn on the grass."
He continued, “A proper country cannot allow itself the continued harming of its citizens and residents. This is the ongoing reality for nine months in northern communities. This evening crossed all possible lines.”
An elementary school principal, Jihan Sfadi, told Channel 12 that five students from the school died. “The situation here is very difficult. Parents are crying, people are screaming outside. No one can digest what has happened,” he said.
Hezbollah initially denied carrying out the attack, but Israeli political and military leaders rejected that denial. IDF Chief Spokesman Daniel Hagari said simply, "Hezbollah is lying."
The U.S. National Security Council released a statement saying, in part, "Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah.”
Meanwhile the United Nations called for "maximum restraint" between Israel and Lebanon.
Katz cautioned, "We will pay a price on both the front and the home front, but by the end of the war, Nasrallah and Hezbollah will be crushed, and Lebanon will suffer severely. We will restore peace and security to the northern communities. I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare for a comprehensive campaign worldwide to gain legitimacy for action in Lebanon."
The Jerusalem Post reports Israel struck targets in the Lebanese coastal city of Tyre Sunday morning. The military also struck deep into Lebanon overnight, hitting a variety of infrastructure targets that enable rocket launches.
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