Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed pager attacks in Lebanon, over September attacks which targeted Hezbollah operatives. Such an operation left nearly 40 dead and injured 3,000 members of the Iran-backed group. Netanyahu’s spokesperson Omer Dostri confirmed this over the weekend.
Thousands of pagers, used by Hezbollah for secure communication detonated in strongholds on September 17 and 18. The blasts Hezbollah labeled an “Israeli breach” of its network, caused severe injuries. Some members lost fingers; others are permanently blind. In revenge, Hezbollah vowed to take vengeance, with the risk of serious escalation all along the border.
The attacks came after Israel’s statement that it would extend its military operations beyond Gaza, as was its campaign against Hezbollah, following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Israel and Hezbollah have been clashing continuously near the border with Lebanon since then, with both sides incurring losses.
Victims condemned and reported pager attacks in Lebanon
Lebanon condemned the pager operation as an “egregious war against humanity” in a complaint filed with the United Nations Labour Agency. Meanwhile, Israel carries on with pinpoint strikes by air raids on Hezbollah’s main bastion in southern Beirut. One of these, which is near Lebanon’s international airport, caused minimal damage, including to the headquarters of Middle East Airlines.
The conflict has so far already cost over 3,000 deaths since last October, and hostilities have yet to subside in Lebanon. Israel recently asserted that it had exterminated the head of Hezbollah’s leading arms procurers – Hashem Safieddine, the potential successor to the former leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The situation is tight and unforgiving as both sides continue exchanging threats amidst increasing casualties in the war which has attracted a lot of international concern.