How did strike on Golan Heights soccer field happen? Here's what we know

Two days after a rocket slammed into a soccer pitch in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights, killing 12 children, many questions remain about the attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams.

Israel accused Hezbollah in Lebanon of deliberately targeting civilians, while Hezbollah quickly issued a rare denial of any responsibility for the attack.

With Israel vowing retaliation for the highest civilian death toll in Israel-held territory since Hamas' October 7 attack, diplomats rushed to prevent an escalation that could spiral into an all-out war after months of exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah over the border.

Weapons experts told The Associated Press that evidence appears to point to a rocket from Lebanon hitting the field. But they raised the possibility that the hit on civilians was an accident.

Here's what we know and what remains unclear about the attack.

The strike

The strike left a crater about 2 metres (yards) wide, breaking through the carpet of artificial grass where th