IDF presents evidence linking Hezbollah to Majdal Shams rocket attack after Hezbollah denies responsibility

Following the rocket attack on the Druze community of Majdal Shams in Israel’s northern Golan Heights on Saturday, the Hezbollah terror group took the unusual step of denying responsibility.

Hezbollah's chief spokesperson, Mohammed Afif, told the Associated Press that Hezbollah "categorically denies carrying out an attack on Majdal Shams.” 

Hail Mahmoud, a resident of Majdal Shams, told Israel's Channel 12 that sirens sounded mere seconds before the impact on the soccer field where children were playing. 

Hezbollah attempted to implicate Israel in the disaster, with several Hezbollah-affiliated politicians in Lebanon and prominent pro-Hezbollah social media accounts saying the explosion was a failed Iron Dome missile. 

Lebanese Shiite politician Nabih Berri, often an ally of Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament, denied any Hezbollah role in the attacks during a phone call with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, according to Lebanese news sites. 

However, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi accused Hezbollah of launching the rocket that killed 12 children and presented evidence linking the launch to the terror group. 

“We know exactly where the rocket was launched from today,” Halevi stated. “We examined the remains of the rocket here on the wall of the soccer field. We know [enough] to say that it is a Falaq rocket with a 53-kg warhead. This is a Hezbollah rocket. And whoever launches such a rocket into a built-up area wants to kill civilians, wants to kill children.” 

The IDF said that Hezbollah is the only group in the area of Israel’s northern border that uses the  Iranian-made Falaq 1 rocket. 

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari accused Hezbollah of lying about the rocket attack.

"In the past hour, Hezbollah has been lying and denying its responsibility for the incident," Hagari stated. "Our intelligence is clear - Hezbollah is responsible for killing innocent children. Ten-year-old children. And once again, the brutality of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was exposed."

Hagari called the attack "a very serious incident," saying the IDF "will act accordingly. The IDF will do everything to protect the citizens of the State of Israel."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Tokyo, also claimed: “Every indication is that indeed the rocket was from Hezbollah. We stand by Israel’s right to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks.”

Hezbollah previously claimed responsibility for a rocket attack using a Falaq rocket during a strike in January, also in the Golan Heights, in which two IDF soldiers were injured. 

In May, another rocket attack targeting the area of Kiryat Shmona, also included the firing of several Falaq rockets, according to the Alma Research Center in northern Israel. 

Before the IDF released its assessment of the attack, Alma posted to 𝕏, showing evidence it collected that indicated Hezbollah was responsible.

A Hezbollah rocket hit a soccer field this evening (July 27, 1830) in the Druze Israeli village of Majdal Shams at the foot of Mount Hermon. 11 children were killed as a result of the rocket impact and many more were injured while playing soccer. The rocket was fired as part of a… pic.twitter.com/AWkOqnRrHa

— Israel-Alma (@IsraelAlmaorg) July 27, 2024

The Falaq rocket was developed by Iran in the 1990s. It uses a solid rocket fuel propellant and has a range of about 10 km (6 miles). In June, Hezbollah admitted to having an updated version, called the Falaq 2.

In an interview with the Lebanese channel Al-Manar, which is affiliated with the Hezbollah terror organization, an artillery officer stated: “Falaq 1 and Falaq 2 are missiles which entered the battle based on the conditions set by the leadership.” 

“The Falaq missile has a great destructive capability and can also reach targets up to 11 km,” the officer said during the interview. “Every Falaq missile is equivalent to an airstrike.” 

In early June, Hezbollah claimed to have used the Falaq 2 against Israel in an attack targeting an Israeli military base in Beit Hillel in northern Israel. 

Halevi also promised to “support the resident of Majdal Shams,” saying the IDF “embraces the bereaved families and wish all the injured a speedy and full recovery.” 

“Our duty is to return the residents of the north safely to their homes, in the entire north, the Galilee and the Golan Heights, a full commitment. It is a difficult day, we will work for better days.”