The strategic truth revealed by the Majdal Shams operation

Majdal Shams is the largest village in the Syrian Golan Heights. It is located on the southern slope of Mount Hermon and is currently under Israeli occupation. The village is approximately 1,200 metres above sea level.

During Ottoman rule, Majdal Shams, along with the rest of the Balan region, belonged to the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Rashaya District. After the French mandate, it became part of the Damascus Governorate in Syria, and after Syria’s independence, the village became part of the Quneitra Governorate.

Israel occupied the Golan Heights during the 1967 war, including Majdal Shams, and the village is still under Israeli occupation. From 1967 until 1982, Majdal Shams was under Israeli military rule, and since 1982 it has been under civilian rule due to the illegal decision by Israel to annex the Golan Heights.

The occupation state built Jewish settlements on occupied Syrian territory, all of which are illegal under international law. Although the people living in 163 villages and farms were displaced, Majdal Shams remained. Around 500,000 Syrians were driven out of their homes across the occupied Golan.

Large crowds from the occupied Syrian Arab Golan and Palestinian Israeli citizens from the territories occupied in 1948 yesterday mourned the 12 people killed by a missile attack on Majdal Shams. They included children, and all were from the local Druze community.

Some Israeli ministers tried to attend the funerals but the crowd made it clear that they were not welcome. Aside from ministers Nir Barkat, Idit Silman and Yoav Kish, the extreme far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich heard shouts of “Get out of here, you criminal. We don’t want you in the Golan.”

The families of the victims called on the Israeli ministers not to exploit the attack that took place in Majdal Shams for political goals and an Israeli agenda, The Druze leadership in the Golan and the bereaved families asked Israeli government ministers not to attend the funeral at the People’s House in the village.

Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the Majdal Shams incident. However, statements by Zionist officials indicate that the occupation state is looking to use the incident as an excuse to launch a full-scale war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

An attack such as that in Majdal Shams has not happened before. Hezbollah is not known for targeting civilians directly. There are two military bases close to Majdal Shams, and Israel’s feted Iron Dome missile defence system did not intercept what the occupation army claims was a missile launched from southern Lebanon.

The Zionists are trying to find a justification for war that coincides with the ongoing diplomatic process in Rome for a ceasefire in Gaza. They want to restore the deterrence factor that Hezbollah had broken, and to restore air superiority after the militia penetrated the airspace of the northern occupied territories 33 times using drones for aerial reconnaissance of strategic areas.

It is my belief that the Israeli occupation army committed a false flag attack on Majdal Shams intentionally, hence the oncoming missile was not picked up and destroyed by iron Dome. Why? A massacre like this serves Israeli warmongering interests, especially those of Netanyahu and his far-right coalition government, which seeks to prolong and expand the war on the northern front.

READ: Iran warns Israel against ‘new adventurism’ after Majdal Shams attack

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.