Israel Says Hezbollah Launches Rocket Fire, Killing 12 At Football Ground (image-twitter/ImtiazMadmood)
A rocket attack at a football field on Saturday has killed 12 including children and teens. Israel has blamed Hezbollah for the strike in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and has vowed to inflict a heavy price on the Iran-backed Lebanese group.
However, Hezbollah has denied any responsibility for the strike although the group did say it had launched several barrages of missiles at northern Israel on Saturday.
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Israeli military said that the ages of those killed or wounded ranged from 10 to 20 years old and they had been playing soccer at the time of the attack.
As Israel waged nearly a 10-month-long war with Hamas in Gaza to the south, it has traded fire with Hezbollah to the north. However, both sides have avoided launching a full-blown war, which would devastate both Israel and Lebanon.
The Israeli ambulance service said 13 more people were wounded by the rocket that hit the soccer pitch. Footage of the attack was posted on social media. In the video, an air raid siren could be heard which was followed by a big explosion and images of the smoke rising.
The Israel military said the rocket launch was carried out from an area located north of the village of Chebaa in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah chief spokesman Mohammed Afif told The Associated Press that the group “categorically denies carrying out an attack on Majdal Shams.” It is unusual for Hezbollah to deny an attack.
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Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was already due to head back from the United States to Israel overnight on Saturday, said he would bring his flight forward and convene his security cabinet upon arrival.
