Lebanese Druze leader warns about Israel's attempt to 'incite strife' following Majdal Shams attack

BEIRUT

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt warned Saturday about Israel’s efforts to “incite strife” in the region after it accused Hezbollah of being involved in the shelling of the town of Druze in Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights.

Jumblatt said in light of Hezbollah’s statement denying any involvement in the attack on Druze, “We reiterate our warning and alertness to what the Israeli enemy has long been working on—to incite strife, fragment the region, and target its components,” as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency. “We have previously thwarted this (Israeli) scheme, and now that it has reemerged, we remain vigilant alongside the resistance and all fighters confronting Israeli aggression and occupation.”

Israeli authorities said earlier that 11 people were killed and 37 others injured in the missile attack.

While the Israeli army accused Hezbollah of the attack, the group denied responsibility.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv presses ahead with a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 39,300 victims since October following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala