Israel does not intend to escalate the tensions into an all-out war but is willing to engage in short term fighting against Hezbollah following rocket strike on Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, two Israeli officials said to Reuters on Monday.
Four officials, including a senior defense official and a diplomatic source, announced that Israel does not intend to start an all-out war against Lebanon, “the estimation is that the response will not lead to an all-out war,” said the diplomatic source to Reuters. “That would not be in our interest at this point.”
The statement was released following the attack that targeted a football stadium in the Israeli-occupied Golan heights which resulted in the death of 12 people. Israeli and United States authorities blamed Hezbollah for the attack and threatened retaliatory action against the group. However, Hezbollah has denied involvement with the attack.
All four Israeli officials, including a senior defense official and a diplomatic source, talked with Reuters anonymously and provided no additional information about Israel’s plans for retaliation.
“The diplomatic source believes the response will not result in an all-out war.”
The event has raised fears that months of cross-border fighting between Israel and the heavily armed Hezbollah could escalate into a larger, more catastrophic conflict.An Israeli drone attack killed two Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon on Monday, according to security sources. They were Lebanon’s first fatalities after the Saturday tragedy.
According to a Lebanese civil defense officer, three other individuals, including an infant, were wounded in the strike.
An Israeli drone attack killed two Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon on Monday, according to security sources. They were Lebanon’s first fatalities after the Saturday tragedy. According to a Lebanese civil defense officer, three other individuals, including an infant, were wounded in the strike.
On Monday, the Israeli military said its air defenses shot down a drone that had crossed from Lebanon into the Western Galilee area.