The Chief of the General Staff's Remarks in Majdal Shams
The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, visited the soccer field in Majdal Shams and met with the Head of the Druze community, Shaykh Mowafaq Tarif and representatives of the local authority, the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin and the the Commanding Officer of the 210th Division, BG Yair Peli.
Attached are the full remarks of the Chief of the General Staff:
"We know exactly where the rocket was launched from today. We examined the remains of the rocket here on the wall of the soccer field. We know to say that it is a Falaq rocket with a 53kg 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. We give strength to the Druze community, our brave, full partner, with the rest of the citizens of Israel, in the war for our home, our collective home. We strongly support the residents of Majdal Shams, and we embrace the bereaved families and wish all the injured a speedy and full recovery. It is important for me to say to you, the residents of the north, that it has been a long time that you have been away from home. We see the struggle, and we will use all means to return you home safely. We are greatly increasing our readiness for the next stage of fighting in the north. We are simultaneously operating in the Gaza Strip. We know how to strike even very far from the State of Israel. There will be more challenges, and we will raise our readiness. When required, we will act strongly. 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.”