Israel Air Force attacked Hezbollah sites in Lebanon on Sunday, in response to an attack by Hezbollah that killed 12 Druze youths in a soccer match in a town in Israel’s Golan Heights. This was the deadliest Israeli attack since October 7, 2023. It stoked concerns that the conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah could spread to the Bekaa Valley in Hezbollah’s heartland.
Hezbollah launched at least two rockets yesterday into the Israeli town of Majdal Shams.
Most of the residents are Druzes, who have retained their Syrian citizenship since 1981. They are not drafted into the Israel Defense Forces.
From the analysis of the IDF’s operational systems, the rocket launch at the center of Majdal Shams was carried out from an area located north of the village of Chebaa in southern Lebanon.
According to reliable intelligence information in the possession of the IDF, Hezbollah is… pic.twitter.com/lK5jU8liwq
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 27, 2024
The attack caused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was on a visit to the United States, to return earlier than planned and meet immediately with his cabinet to formulate a response.
The rockets hit a soccer pitch inside the city.
🚨Hezbollah Missile strike hits Majd Al-Shams in Golan Heisghts🚨
Sirens sounding prior to tragic strike on Soccer Field Recreation Complex
Hebrew Media reports that these are scenes ‘not seen since 10/7
Turning point in North
— Sunlight—Best Disinfectant (@1TxStar) July 27, 2024
The victims are shown here, along with the mass funeral.
Iron dome missiles hit Majd al-Shams one after the other by mistake!#Israel #Lebanon#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/deNZmkMI77
— Rezvan (@Noone1119822) July 28, 2024
Hezbollah immediately switched from a “we achieved it” celebration, to playing Sergeant Schultz.
Hezbollah realised they’re all about to be obliterated, and immediately went from “We did it” to “We did nothing”.
Too late, demons. pic.twitter.com/RYZkW5Zh6M
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) July 27, 2024
On social media, terror simps claimed that the rocket was a misfired Iron Dome missile.
Druze from Majdal Shams confirms it was an Israeli iron dome missile that struck the Syrian city. He is talking Arabic and is a syrian passport holder. pic.twitter.com/J2p9qDMlcX
— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) July 27, 2024
This is a pro-Assad account. It’s not all that convincing, though.
This video seems to show an Iron Dome intercept. We do not know when or where it was shot, but we know that the debris from the interceptions is not in Majdal Shams.
You lie more than you breathe
Iron Dome missiles killed civilians in Majdal Shams, not Hezbollah missiles
The video was taken above Majdal Shams, showing the defect in the dome
Iron.
The moment the Israeli interceptor missile fell over the heads of Arab citizens pic.twitter.com/RkYtlBZf0z
— احمد الثابتي (@a_althabte) July 27, 2024
This video is fake, but it’s not the same.
Iron dome missiles hit Majd al-Shams one after the other by mistake!#Israel #Lebanon#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/deNZmkMI77
— Rezvan (@Noone1119822) July 28, 2024
Even if they were both taken at the time and place claimed, it is clear that no Iron Dome missiles were fired in Majdal Shams.
It was not long before Israel’s response.
Israel’s military claimed that it had targeted Hezbollah militant infrastructure and weapons caches in Lebanon overnight, including the areas of Chabriha and Borj El-Chmali.
#BREAKING: #Israel just started punishment of #Hezbollah terrorist organization in #Lebanon. It is #IDF‘s response to massacre of Deruze children in Majd Al-Shams. Fighter jets of #IsraeliAirForce are bombing Hezbollah targets in Abbasiya, Kafr Kila, Teir Harfa, Kafra & Khiam. pic.twitter.com/QqquLIFYcg
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) July 27, 2024
#BREAKING: The #Israel Air Force has now released footage showing its airstrikes at weapon storage facilities of #Hezbollah terrorist organization in south of #Lebanon. It was a response to the killing of Deruze children at the football field of Majd Al-Shams. pic.twitter.com/Baw0RLYYn6
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) July 28, 2024
The attack was not a flashpoint in a larger regional conflict because of its specifics – the victims were Druze and not Israelis, and it happened on the Golan rather than Israel proper – but since the victims were Druze. Unintentionally, the attack may have had the effect of strengthening Druze’s support for Israel and making Hezbollah an enemy in Syria.
