In a tragic incident, a rocket struck a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, resulting in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers. The attack has intensified concerns over a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Following the rocket strike, the University of Haifa, located less than 50km away from Israel's border with Lebanon, issued a directive for all staff working above the fifth floor in their 30-storey building to work from home. The university's precautionary measure reflects the mounting fear that they are within Hezbollah's range.

Esther Parpara, a university staff member, highlighted the dangerous situation, recalling that during the last war with Hezbollah in 2006, the group's weapons reached Haifa. She emphasized the need for self-defense, asserting that while Israel does not seek war, Hezbollah's ultimate goal is to destroy Israel and the Jewish people.

The recent escalation in cross-border fire between Israel and Lebanon started on October 8, when Hezbollah launched rockets and shells at Israeli sites in solidarity with a Hamas attack on Israel. Both groups are aligned in their call for the destruction of the Israeli state.

Hezbollah has frequently targeted northern Israel and the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed in 1981. In response, Israel has conducted airstrikes and missile attacks on southern Lebanon and beyond. In the aftermath of the Saturday rocket fire, Israel carried out a wave of attacks overnight.

Since October, the tit-for-tat strikes have claimed the lives of over 450 people in Lebanon, including around 100 civilians, while Israel reports 23 civilian and 17 soldier fatalities. Though the skirmishes had been relatively contained, the tragic event on Saturday, resulting in the highest death toll since October, poses the question of how Israel will respond.

Thousands gathered in mourning in the affected town, holding flowers and photos alongside small white coffins of the young victims. While Hezbollah denies firing the fatal rocket, the Israeli government refutes this claim. Reports suggest that Hezbollah has preemptively cleared key sites in anticipation of a potential large-scale Israeli attack.

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, returned early from the US to convene a security cabinet meeting. Calls for a strong retaliation have emerged, with Netanyahu vowing that Hezbollah will face a heavy price. Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, called for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to be held accountable, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned of an impending all-out war.

Nevertheless, Israel is aware that engaging in a war with Hezbollah could have devastating consequences for both sides. Hezbollah is considered the most powerful non-state actor in the region, armed with an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, and backed by Iran. Any Israeli attack may draw in Tehran, which has cautioned against "unforeseen consequences."

Additionally, Israeli forces are already stretched in managing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, making it challenging to open up another military front. However, the displaced Israeli residents from the border region with Lebanon demand that the government neutralize the threat posed by Hezbollah.

Mr. Netanyahu, whose popularity is declining domestically, may face pressure from far-right ministers to expand the fight into Lebanon as a means to boost his political standing. The delicate situation underscores the need for restraint, as the international community urges both sides to de-escalate tensions.

World leaders are scrambling to contain the fallout and prevent further escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. As the region teeters on the edge, waiting to see if the rocket strike in the Golan Heights will ignite a full-blown conflict, the stakes are higher than ever.