BEIRUT: Lebanon on Sunday formally called for an international investigation into a deadly strike that killed 12 people on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, further intensifying regional tensions.
The strike on Saturday targeted a football field in Majdal Shams, a Druze town, and was initially attributed by the Israeli military to Hezbollah. The attack occurred while children and teenagers were playing on the field.
Hezbollah, which has been involved in recent cross-border attacks, has denied any involvement in the Majdal Shams incident. The group stated that it had “no connection” to the attack, despite a series of other reported strikes on Israeli military positions throughout the day.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for an international investigation or a meeting of the tripartite committee, which includes military officials from Lebanon, Israel, and peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Bou Habib said that the strike might have been carried out by other groups or could have been an error by Israel.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the attack. Bou Habib expressed concern that any large-scale retaliation by Israel could exacerbate the already volatile regional situation, potentially igniting a broader conflict.
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In a statement, Bou Habib urged the complete implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was designed to end the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and mandated that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers be deployed in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed a strong response to the attack, stating that Israel will “hit the enemy hard.” Meanwhile, Iran warned Israel against any new military actions in Lebanon, warning that such moves could lead to “unforeseen consequences.”
The violence along the Israel-Lebanon border has intensified since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. Hezbollah maintains that its cross-border strikes are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
According to recent tallies, the ongoing violence has resulted in at least 527 deaths in Lebanon, including 104 civilians, while Israel has reported 46 fatalities.
