Israel At least ten dead after rocket hits Golan Heights

At least ten people have been killed when a rocket hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The victims were children and young people, reported Israeli media and a senior official in the Israeli Foreign Ministry. A football pitch in the village of Madschal Shams had been hit. The Israeli army had previously reported a rocket attack by Hezbollah. The Shiite militia immediately denied involvement.

According to the Israeli army, Hezbollah had fired around 40 rockets from Lebanon into the Golan Heights. According to the military, at least one rocket had hit Majdal Shams. Israeli media spoke of the deadliest incident since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in October. It raised fears that a major conflagration could break out in the region.

"There is no doubt that Hezbollah has crossed all red lines," Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12 television. "We are on the brink of an all-out war." This could come at a high cost to Israel, but the cost to Hezbollah would be even higher, the chief diplomat warned.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it had nothing to do with the incident. It categorically rejected the accusations that it had attacked Majdal Shams.

The Golan Heights are a strategically important rocky plateau, around 60 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide. The plateau was conquered by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981. However, this was not recognized internationally. According to international law, the areas are considered to be Syrian territory occupied by Israel.

The village now under attack is mainly inhabited by Druze. The Arabic-speaking religious community emerged from Shiite Islam in the 11th century and today mainly settles in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.

The Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah have been fighting almost daily since the start of the Gaza war. The intensity has recently increased significantly. There have already been casualties on both sides. According to its own statements, Hezbollah is acting out of solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There have long been fears that the conflict could escalate.