As we filmed the remains of a miniature football pitch in the town of Majdal Shams, a local resident suggested we talk to one of the doctors who had arrived just after the rocket had slammed into the field.
The Israelis say the missile flew a short distance over the sunburnt hills which divide Lebanon from the Israeli-held Golan Heights, before hurtling into the centre of town.
Its 50kg warhead detonated on the spot where the youngsters gathered between the matches – catching their breath or sipping some water. Local officials told us 12 children, between the ages of 11 and 16, had been killed. The remains of one has not been found.
Dr Ghassan Abu Jabal told us he was sitting in the garden with his wife Jomana when he heard a great bang. Their first thought was for their son, Ward, who had gone to play football on the pitch.
He said: “We were sitting here when it happened. We heard the sirens and within three seconds, an explosion.
“We knew our son was there so Jomana ran out to get him. I rushed to the medical centre nearby to help treat the casualties that started flooding in.”
Dr Abu Jabal said he has never had to cope with anything like this.
He said: “One of the kids I tried treating didn’t make it. He was my son’s friend. They brought him over to me.”
The doctor began to cry, adding: “He was still alive. He had a chance. It was so difficult. So painful.”
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Children killed in strike on Israeli football pitch
‘I was scared, I was crying’
Like many others, Jomana Abu Jabal began a desperate search for her son.
Blinded with worry she ran through the town before finding her 10-year-old unscathed.
Ward said he lost his best friend in the attack
Ward had survived by racing to the shelter when the siren began to wail. The pock-marked walls of this shelter stand just outside the football pitch.
“We heard the sirens and three seconds later heard the explosion. Then we ran to the shelter,” said Ward.
“I was scared, I was crying, and running really fast.”
Milad was killed in the strike
Best friend killed in attack
Ward was fortunate but told us that he lost his best friend Milad in the attack.
Jomana showed us a picture of the smiley 10-year-old on her mobile phone and told us he was always at their house.
“Every morning, he knocked on our door, asked for Ward to go to play together in the stadium,” she said.
Jomana burst into teras over the loss of her son’s best friend
With that she burst into tears, for the loss of a joyous neighbour – and her son’s best friend – was something very difficult to come to terms with.
This is a wretched moment for Majdal Shams – a community described to us as one big family.
Residents will need the support of everyone here to recover from this.
