Hezbollah rocket strikes Israeli playground killing 11 children and teens; region on brink of war

A Hezbollah rocket strike was launched into northern Israel and struck a playground on Saturday, resulting in 11 children and teens dying. It struck a soccer field in a village in the Golan Heights, and has raised fears of an expanded regional war.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, one that it has not paid so far.” He has cut short his trip to the U.S. to return to Israel and address the attack. 

“Hezbollah terrorists brutally attacked and murdered children today, whose only crime was going out to play soccer, said Israeli President Isaac Herzog. "They did not return,” he said in a post on X.

“The world cannot continue to sit in silence in the face of (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah’s terror attacks, which come at the behest of the empire of evil in Iran. The State of Israel will firmly defend its citizens and its sovereignty.”

Many of the victims are children, according to reports. 

Officials say the death toll is expected to increase, according to the New York Post. 

At least 29 others were injured, according to CNN. 

Foreign Minister Israel Katz, after discussing the matter with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declared that “Hezbollah crossed all red lines," later adding that Israel is "facing an all-out war” with the terrorist group. 

This is the deadliest attack since Oct. 7.