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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A rocket onslaught Saturday connected a shot section successful nan Israeli-controlled Golan Heights killed astatine slightest 10 group and wounded respective others, including children, Israel said, hours aft an Israeli airstrike connected southbound Lebanon killed 3 members of nan militant Hezbollah group.
The strike, nan deadliest onslaught connected an Israeli target since nan fighting betwixt nan 2 foes erupted successful October, raised fears of of a broader conflagration successful nan region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was returning location arsenic quickly arsenic imaginable from nan United States, his agency said.
Hezbollah said it struck a subject guidelines successful nan Golan Heights successful retaliation for Israeli attacks connected a colony successful Lebanon.
Hezbollah main spokesperson Mohammed Afif told The Associated Press that nan group “categorically denies carrying retired an onslaught connected Majdal Shams.”
Chief spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari asserted to journalists that “Hezbollah is lying.” He said each 10 group killed were aged 10 to 20 and that much than 20 different group were wounded.
The Israeli subject said successful a connection Saturday that according to intelligence successful its possession, “the rocket motorboat toward Majdal Shams was carried retired by nan Hezbollah violent organization.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding a preliminary consultation pinch his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, instantly aft nan disaster successful Majdal Shams. pic.twitter.com/pmk3c2cz94
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 27, 2024“The Hezbollah violent statement is down nan rocket motorboat astatine a shot section successful Majdal Shams which caused aggregate civilian casualties, including children, earlier this evening,” nan connection said.
Israel’s Magen David Adom paramedic work initially reported 11 group wounded, 9 critically, and each betwixt nan ages of 10 and 20. Israeli Public Broadcaster Kan aired footage of immoderate being rushed to ambulances connected stretchers from a shot section successful nan municipality of Majdal Shams.
“These were kids astatine a shot field,” Beni Ben Muvchar, caput of nan section council, told Israeli Channel 12. “Today a reddish statement was crossed,” he said, urging Israeli leaders to commencement targeting apical Hezbollah commanders.
The Israeli subject said 1 projectile was identified crossing from Lebanon toward nan area, adding it was cooperating pinch nan MDA to evacuate nan wounded. Channel 12 aired footage of a ample blast successful 1 of nan town’s valleys.
Hezbollah said successful a connection that its militants firing Katyusha rockets astatine an Israeli service station successful nan Golan Heights was successful consequence to Israeli airstrikes connected villages successful southbound Lebanon. The group said earlier 3 of its members were killed connected Saturday without specifying where. Israel’s subject said its aerial unit targeted a Hezbollah arms depot connected nan separator colony of Kfar Kila, adding that militants were wrong astatine nan time.
Israel captured nan Golan Heights from Syria during nan 1967 Mideast warfare and later annexed them successful 1981.
Israel and Hezbollah person traded near regular fire since nan warfare successful Gaza started aft Hamas’ astonishment onslaught connected Oct. 7 killed immoderate 1,200 group and took 250 others hostage. Israel launched an violative that has truthful acold killed much than 39,000 people, according to section wellness authorities, displaced complete 80% of nan territory’s group and triggered a humanitarian disaster successful nan Gaza Strip.
Over nan past weeks, nan speech of occurrence on nan Lebanon-Israel intensified pinch Israeli airstrikes and rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah striking deeper and further distant from nan border.
Since early October, Israeli airstrikes successful Lebanon person killed much than 450 people, mostly Hezbollah members, but besides astir 90 civilians and non-combatants. On nan Israeli side, 21 soldiers and 13 civilians had been killed earlier Saturday.
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Mroue reported from Beirut.