Israeli officials say they are seeking to avoid full-scale war in retaliation for Lebanon

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel wants to hurt Hezbollah but does not want to drag the Middle East into an all-out war, two Israeli officials said on Monday, as Lebanon prepared to retaliate for a rocket attack that killed 12 children and teenagers in the Golan. The heights are occupied by Israel.
Two other Israeli officials said Israel was preparing for the possibility of days of fighting following Saturday’s rocket attack on a playground in the Druze village.

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The four officials, including a senior security official and a diplomatic source, spoke on condition of anonymity and did not provide further information on Israel’s plans for retaliation.
“The assessment will not lead to an all-out war,” the diplomatic source said. “That would not be in our best interest at this time.”
Israel and the US blamed the Lebanese group Hezbollah for the attack. Hezbollah denied any involvement.
The incident has raised concerns that months of cross-border fighting between Israel and an Iran-backed Lebanese group could escalate into a wider and more destructive war.
On Sunday, Israel’s Defense Cabinet authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant to decide the manner and timing of a response to the attack.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing unnamed officials, said the response would be “limited but significant.”
According to the report, options range from limited attacks on infrastructure including bridges, power plants and ports to targeting Hezbollah weapons depots or targeting Hezbollah commanders.
Fueled by the Gaza war, the feud between Israel and Hezbollah is at its worst since it went to war in 2006.
Hezbollah, an ally of the Palestinian group Hamas, has indicated that its campaign of rocket and drone strikes against Israel is aimed at supporting the Palestinians, and that it will only cease fire if Israel’s offensive on Gaza ends.
The border conflict between Israel and Lebanon has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes on both sides.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stressed the importance of avoiding escalating the conflict in a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, the US State Department said.
They discussed efforts to reach a diplomatic solution for the repatriation of civilians from both sides of the border, as well as ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
Germany has called on all parties involved in the Middle East conflict, especially Iran, to avoid escalation.
(Reporting by James McKenzie and Mayan Lubel in Jerusalem, Maya Khebili in Beirut, Jana Chowkir in Dubai, Simon Lewis in Tokyo)