Israeli officials say they want to hurt Hezbollah but not drag region into war

Israel wants to hurt Hezbollah but not drag the Middle East into all-out war, the Times of Israel has quoted two Israeli officials as saying, as Lebanon braces for retaliation after a rocket strike that Israel blamed on Hezbollah killed 12 children and teens in the Golan Heights on Saturday.

Two other Israeli officials said Israel is preparing for the possibility of a few days of fighting.

All four officials, who included a senior defense official and a diplomatic source, spoke on condition of anonymity and gave no further information about Israel’s plans for retaliation.

“The estimation is that the response will not lead to an all-out war,” said the diplomatic source. “That would not be in our interest at this point,” the source added.

Israel and the United States have blamed Iran-backed Hezbollah for the deadly strike. Hezbollah has denied any role.