Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Hezbollah against attack on Golan Heights in which 12 children were killed: “Will pay a high price”

Israel’s military said Hezbollah fired the rocket from Lebanon, hitting a soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams. The youths, aged between 10 and 20, were killed. Eleven casualties were initially reported, but a twelfth victim later died. Another 18 youths were injured in the attack, emergency services said. However, Hezbollah immediately denied any involvement.

“Hezbollah will pay a high price, the likes of which it has never paid before,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah, according to a statement from his office.

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The office of Netanyahu, who was in the United States on a visit, said he would shorten his trip by several hours, but did not specify when he would return. It said he would convene the security cabinet upon his arrival.

Israeli military chief spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called it the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians since the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. He said 20 other people were wounded.

“There is no doubt that Hezbollah has crossed all red lines here, and the reaction will reflect that,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Israel’s Channel 12. “We are approaching the moment when we face a full-scale war.”

Hezbollah denies responsibility

Hezbollah chief spokesman Mohammed Afif said AP that the group “categorically denies carrying out an attack on Majdal Shams.” It is unusual for Hezbollah to deny an attack.

The attack on the soccer field just before sunset followed earlier cross-border violence on Saturday, when Hezbollah said it had killed three of its fighters, but did not say where. The Israeli military said its air force had struck a Hezbollah weapons depot in the border village of Kfar Kila, adding that fighters were there at the time.

Hezbollah said its fighters had carried out 10 separate attacks on Israeli military posts using rockets and explosive drones. The last of these targeted the Haramoun Brigade army command in Maaleh Golani with Katyusha rockets. In a separate statement, Hezbollah said it had hit the same army post with a short-range Falaq rocket. The attacks were in response to Israeli airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon.