In a shocking revelation, several news outlets confirmed late Tuesday that Israel’s military and intelligence services were behind the explosions of pagers recently purchased by the Lebanese political party and militant group Hezbollah. The blasts, which occurred earlier Tuesday, killed at least 11 people, including an 8-year-old girl, and wounded thousands more.
The Explosions
According to reports, the explosions were set off by a message that appeared to be from Hezbollah’s leadership. The message, which was sent to the pagers, triggered a detonation that caused widespread destruction and chaos.
Citing both an unnamed former Israeli official with knowledge of the operation and an anonymous U.S. official, Axios reported that “Israeli intelligence services planned to use the booby-trapped pagers it managed to ‘plant’ in Hezbollah’s ranks as a surprise opening blow in an all-out war to try to cripple Hezbollah.”
The report continued, “But in recent days, Israeli leaders became concerned that Hezbollah might discover the pagers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his top ministers, and the heads of the Israel Defense Forces and the intelligence agencies decided to use the system now rather than take the risk of it being detected by Hezbollah, a U.S. official said.”
Condemnation
The revelations have sparked widespread condemnation from Lebanese officials and international organizations. “This is a clear example of Israel’s disregard for human life and its willingness to use any means necessary to achieve its goals,” said a spokesperson for the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The United Nations has also condemned the attack, with a spokesperson stating, “We are deeply concerned by the reports of Israeli involvement in the explosions in Lebanon. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.”
Hezbollah has vowed to respond to the attack, with a spokesperson stating, “We will not let this aggression go unpunished. We will take all necessary measures to protect our people and our country.”
The group has also called on the international community to condemn Israel’s actions and to take action to prevent further aggression.
The attack has heightened tensions in the region, with many fearing that it could lead to a wider conflict. “This is a very dangerous development,” said a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We urge all parties to exercise restraint and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
The attack has also sparked concerns about the potential for further Israeli aggression in the region. “Israel’s actions are a clear threat to regional stability,” said a spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We urge the international community to take action to prevent further Israeli aggression.”
The revelations of Israeli involvement in the pager explosions in Lebanon have sparked widespread condemnation and heightened tensions in the region. The attack has killed at least 11 people and wounded thousands more, and has raised concerns about the potential for further Israeli aggression.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the conflict in Lebanon is far from over. The international community must take action to prevent further violence and to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
