In a statement, Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli military IDF, says that Hezbollah's "ongoing aggression and brutal attacks" are drawing the entire Middle East into an escalation.
"While we prefer to resolve hostilities without a larger war, the IDF is fully prepared for all scenarios," says Hagari.
On Tuesday, Israel carried out a targeted attack on Fuad Shukr, a leading commander within Hezbollah, in Lebanon's capital Beirut. At least three civilians, a woman and two children, died and over 70 people were injured in the attack, according to Lebanon.
Shukr is accused by Israel of being behind the deadly attack over the weekend against the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, in which 12 children died. Iran-backed Hezbollah has denied the accusation, but claimed to have attacked Israeli military targets the same day.
Israel claims to have now "eliminated" Shukr – but a source close to the Hezbollah movement tells the AFP news agency that he is said to have survived.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemns the attack, which he describes as a "criminal act" and one in a "series of aggressive attacks where civilians have been killed in clear violations of international law". Iran, Hezbollah's ally, also condemns what the country describes as a "malicious" attack.
Israel and Hezbollah have almost daily exchanged fire across the border since the Gaza War began after Hamas, labeled as a terrorist organization, attacked Israel in October last year.
