Lebanon demands int’l probe as Hezbollah denies involvement in deadly Golan Heights strike

Lebanon has called for an international investigation into a deadly strike that killed 12 people, including children, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The incident, which occurred in the Druze town of Majdal Shams on Saturday, has heightened pre-existing tensions, with the occupation state blaming resistance movement Hezbollah.

The Israeli military has claimed that an Iranian-made rocket fired by Hezbollah struck a football field, killing children and teenagers. However, Hezbollah has denied involvement, insisting it targets only military positions.

In a statement on X, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for an “international investigation or a meeting of the tripartite committee held through UNIFIL to know the truth” about who was responsible for the attack, AFP reported.

Bou Habib also warned against a large-scale Israeli retaliation, suggesting it could lead to a regional war. He called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers as the only armed forces in south Lebanon.

Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, vowed to “hit the enemy hard” following the strike, while Iran warned that any new Israeli military actions in Lebanon could have “unforeseen consequences.” The Biden administration has also expressed concern, fearing the incident might escalate into a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has maintained its denial of involvement, claiming the incident resulted from an Israeli interceptor missile hitting the football field. BBC correspondent Nafiseh Kohnavard noted that while Israel accuses Hezbollah, the group has historically targeted military objectives.

READ: Israel targets southern Lebanese towns after attack in occupied Golan Heights