Israeli officials have stated that their goal is to prevent an all-out war in Lebanon while responding to recent provocations.

Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the recent incident. Four Israeli officials, including a senior defense official and a diplomatic source, spoke anonymously to Reuters but did not reveal further details about Israel's plans for retaliation. The diplomatic source indicated that the expected response would likely be measured and not escalate into full-scale war, as that would not be beneficial for Israel at this time. The incident has heightened fears that the ongoing cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate into a more destructive conflict.

On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authority to decide on the nature and timing of a response to the strike in the Golan town of Majdal Shams. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the response is expected to be "limited but significant," with options ranging from targeting infrastructure to striking Hezbollah arms depots or commanders.

After visiting Majdal Shams, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not let the incident go unanswered and promised a harsh response. The current hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah are among the worst since their 2006 war, exacerbated by the ongoing Gaza conflict. Hezbollah, aligned with Hamas, has stated that its attacks on Israel are in support of Palestinians and will continue until Israel halts its Gaza offensive.

The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, stressed the need to prevent further escalation and to pursue diplomatic solutions for the conflict and the situation in Gaza.

Germany and the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission have also called for de-escalation, with UNIFIL intensifying efforts to reduce tensions. An Israeli drone strike on Monday killed two Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon, marking the first fatalities in Lebanon since the Saturday incident. The Israeli military reported intercepting a drone from Lebanon over Western Galilee, and flights at Beirut's airport have been disrupted in anticipation of potential Israeli retaliation.

Both Israel and Hezbollah are trying to avoid a full-scale war despite ongoing clashes. Hezbollah maintains it did not fire the rocket that killed the youngsters and instead targeted a military site in the Golan. Israeli strikes have resulted in significant casualties, including around 350 Hezbollah fighters and over 100 civilians in Lebanon, while Hezbollah attacks have killed 23 Israeli civilians and at least 17 soldiers since October.

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