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Death toll in the attack on Israel has reached 12. Prime Minister Netanyahu promises revenge

The toll of the rocket attack on a soccer field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has risen to 12 dead. Among the victims are children, the BBC reports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on the X platform that the Lebanese group Hezbollah, accused of the attack, "will pay a heavy price, as it has never paid before".

“I spoke to Muafak Tarif and expressed my deep shock at Hezbollah's killing of innocent children and people. The entire nation of Israel sends its sincere condolences to the families of those killed and the entire Druze community. Hezbollah will pay a heavy price for this, as it has never paid before," Netanyahu wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

In a first comment, the White House condemned the attack, calling it "horrible". "Our support for Israel's security is firm and unwavering against all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Lebanon's Hezbollah," a White House National Security Council spokesman said.

We remind that Israeli authorities blamed Hezbollah for the attack that left at least 12 dead and 30 wounded and vowed to respond with "all-out war", although the Iranian-backed Lebanese group denies any responsibility. The head of Hezbollah's press office, Mohamad Afif, called all the allegations "false."

However, before the aftermath of the attack was reported, Hezbollah claimed four attacks, including one on the military headquarters of the Hermon Brigade on the slopes of Mount Hermon. The base is located about three kilometers from the football field where the explosion occurred, writes the BBC.

Israelis say Saturday night's attack is the "bloodiest" attack on civilians in Israel since the Gaza conflict began on October 7, 2023. The Israeli-occupied Golan Heights were part of Syria until 1967, when Israel captured most of the area in the Middle East war, annexing it in 1981. This unilateral annexation was not recognized by most countries, and Syria is demanding returning the territory. More than 40,000 people live in the Golan occupied by Israel, more than half of whom are Druze residents, writes G4media.

The Druze are an Arab minority who practice a branch of Islam, but who are strong supporters of Israel. In fact, the spiritual leader of the Druze, Muafak Tarif, said on Saturday evening that the missile attack "crossed all possible limits".

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