The Israeli military has conducted airstrikes in several areas of Lebanon in response to a deadly attack on a soccer field in the occupied Golan Heights. The attacks occurred early Sunday and included bombings of weapon storage sites and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as areas near the southern city of Tyre.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Hezbollah, stating that the group had “crossed all boundaries” after the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people, was attributed to them. “Saturday’s massacre constitutes a violation of all red lines by Hezbollah. This is not an army fighting another army, but rather a terror organization deliberately targeting civilians,” the statement read.
Hezbollah, however, has “categorically denied” responsibility for the attack, while unfounded claims have emerged suggesting that a faulty Israeli interceptor missile may have caused the incident.
On Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Minister remarked that Israel should avoid “a new adventure in Lebanon” and criticized Israeli actions as attempts to divert global attention from what he described as mass killings in Gaza. “The Israeli apartheid regime is trying to distract the public and global opinion from its extensive crimes in Palestine with a fabricated scenario,” spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated.
The recent Israeli offensive is seen as a message to Hezbollah, but not necessarily as the response previously promised. “What we witnessed last night was actually normal activity. It is something we have seen for the past 10 months since Hezbollah opened a front in southern Lebanon to assist the people in Gaza,” reported Al Jazeera’s correspondent from Beirut, Zeina Khodr.
The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to hold a meeting later in the day to determine how to respond to the rocket strike on the soccer field in Majdal Shams. According to Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi, an Iranian-produced Falaq rocket, which has been used by Hezbollah since the onset of the border conflict, was fired at the area.
Halevi emphasized that the military is increasing its preparedness for the next phase of the battle in the north while continuing to attack Gaza. This situation has led the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union to condemn the attack and call on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid a large-scale war. More than 350 civilians have lost their lives due to repeated Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the Gaza conflict began, while over 20 Israelis have been killed in attacks from Lebanon.