Although Israel’s army and intelligence services did not claim responsibility for the explosions, they were immediately accused of being the masterminds by Hezbollah and its main supporter Iran. Israel’s army indicated that it was preparing for retaliation.
Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi held a briefing in the evening that focused on “preparedness in all areas, both offensive and defensive,” it was said. The simultaneous explosion of hundreds of pagers on Tuesday injured around 2,750 people in Lebanon and killed nine people. Many of the injured are said to be Hezbollah fighters, including members of the elite Radwan force. The pro-Iranian Shiite militia blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Nabih Berri, the Lebanese parliamentary speaker who is allied with Hezbollah, spoke of a “massacre and war crime by Israel.” In memory of the victims of the incidents and in protest, schools and universities in Lebanon are to remain closed today.
Prepared with explosives by Israeli agents
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According to media reports, the radio receivers that exploded were probably rigged with explosives by Israeli agents. Many of them came from a shipment that Hezbollah received in recent days, reported the Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources. Israeli agents intercepted the Taiwan-made devices before they arrived in Lebanon and loaded each one with around 25 to 50 grams of explosives, reported the New York Times, citing American and other officials who were informed about the operation.
According to information from the US news portal Axios, the explosions also paralyzed a significant part of Hezbollah’s military command and control system. The attack carried out by Israel was aimed at unsettling the powerful militia and creating the feeling in its ranks that it was completely penetrated by Israeli intelligence, Axios quoted an unnamed source as saying. The USA, Israel’s most important ally, was not involved, according to a spokesman for the US State Department, and therefore did not know in advance of such an action.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the explosions as a “terrorist act” and blamed Israel. The Islamic Republic of Iran is an important ally of the Hezbollah militia, and both deny the Jewish state the right to exist. Araghchi expressed his condolences to his Lebanese colleague Abdullah Bou Habib and offered Iran’s support.
“Developments are extremely worrying”
In light of recent events, the United Nations is warning strongly against an escalation in the Middle East. “These developments are extremely worrying, particularly given that this is happening in an extremely unstable context,” said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
The radio receivers in Lebanon were detonated just hours after a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet. The cabinet had declared the return of Israeli citizens who had fled from fighting between the army and Hezbollah to their homes in the north of the country to be one of the war aims – in addition to the liberation of hostages from the contested Gaza Strip and the destruction of the Islamist Hamas, which is allied with Hezbollah.
The only way to achieve this is “military action,” Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday at a meeting with US mediator Amos Hochstein, according to his office. The possibility of a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Hezbollah is becoming increasingly remote because the militia has linked its fate with that of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and refuses to end the conflict.
Since the Gaza War began almost a year ago, there have been almost daily confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli military in the border region between Israel and Lebanon. There have been deaths on both sides as a result of mutual shelling – most of them were members of Hezbollah. Around 60,000 Israelis have had to leave their homes in northern Israel. Thousands of people have also fled from southern Lebanon to other parts of the country.
Israel wants to use military and diplomatic pressure to force the Hezbollah militia to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border – as required by UN Resolution 1701. However, Hezbollah does not want to stop the fighting until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Blinken advocates revival of talks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to be in Egypt by Thursday to revive talks to end the Gaza war. However, an agreement between Israel and Hamas currently seems virtually impossible. Egypt, Qatar and the USA are acting as mediators.
The Palestinians are calling on the United Nations General Assembly to vote for a resolution calling for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories. “Please stand on the right side of history, with international law, with freedom, with peace. The alternative is what you see every day on your television screens and what the Palestinian people have to endure in their flesh,” said the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Riad Mansur, in New York.
The draft resolution is intended to enforce the implementation of a legal opinion from the UN’s highest court on the Middle East conflict; a vote is expected today. If the draft resolution is adopted, it would not be binding under international law. Israel’s UN ambassador sharply criticized the Palestinians’ move.
Israel conquered and occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. The Palestinians claim these territories for their own state, which should be established alongside Israel and which most countries, including Germany, support.
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Hezbollah.
Israel Accused of Covert Operation in Lebanon After Mysterious Explosions
A series of mysterious explosions in Lebanon has sparked widespread outrage and accusations of a covert operation by Israel. The explosions, which occurred on Tuesday, injured around 2,750 people and killed nine, with many of the injured believed to be Hezbollah fighters, including members of the elite Radwan force. The pro-Iranian Shiite militia has blamed Israel for the attacks and threatened retaliation.
Prepared with Explosives by Israeli Agents
According to media reports, the radio receivers that exploded were likely rigged with explosives by Israeli agents. The devices, which were shipped from Taiwan, were intercepted by Israeli agents before they arrived in Lebanon and loaded with around 25 to 50 grams of explosives. The operation is believed to have been designed to unsettle the powerful militia and create the feeling that it was completely penetrated by Israeli intelligence.
International Condemnation and Concern
The United States has denied any involvement in the operation, with a spokesman for the US State Department stating that the country was not aware of the attack in advance. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described the explosions as a “terrorist act” and blamed Israel, while the United Nations has warned strongly against an escalation in the Middle East.
Escalating Tensions in the Region
The explosions have added to the already heightened tensions in the region, with Israel and Hezbollah engaged in a long-standing conflict along the border between Israel and Lebanon. The situation has been further complicated by the ongoing Gaza war, which has seen daily confrontations between the Israeli military and Hamas, an ally of
– What are the implications of the explosions in Lebanon for regional security?
“Mysterious Explosions in Lebanon: Israel Accused of Orchestrating Deadly Blasts”
In a shocking turn of events, hundreds of pagers exploded simultaneously in Lebanon on Tuesday, killing nine people and injuring over 2,750, including many Hezbollah fighters. The powerful Shia militia and its main supporter, Iran, wasted no time in accusing Israel of masterminding the attack. The Israeli army, while not claiming responsibility, has indicated that it is preparing for retaliation, further escalating tensions in the region.
Prepared with explosives by Israeli agents
According to reports, the radio receivers that exploded were likely rigged with explosives by Israeli agents. The devices, sourced from Taiwan, were allegedly intercepted by Israeli agents before they arrived in Lebanon and loaded with 25 to 50 grams of explosives each. This daring operation, if true, has dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah’s military command and control system, as reported by Axios.
The attack is seen as a calculated move by Israel to unsettle the powerful militia and create the perception that it has infiltrated Hezbollah’s ranks. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has denied any prior knowledge of the operation, distancing itself from the controversy.
“Developments are extremely worrying”
The United Nations has sounded a warning bell, expressing grave concerns over the escalating situation in the Middle East. “These developments are extremely worrying, particularly given that this is happening in an extremely unstable context,” said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
The timing of the explosions, which occurred just hours after a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet, has raised eyebrows. The cabinet had declared the return of Israeli citizens who had fled from fighting between the army and Hezbollah to their homes in northern Israel to be one of the war aims, along with the liberation of hostages from the contested Gaza Strip and the destruction of the Islamist Hamas, which is allied with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah and the Iranian Connection
Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, has been a thorn in Israel’s side for decades. The Shia militia has received significant support from Iran, which has enabled it to become a formidable force in the region. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned the explosions as a “terrorist act” and blamed Israel, offering Iran’s support to Lebanon.
The Road Ahead
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is holding its breath, fearing a full-blown conflict in the Middle East. With Israel’s defense minister calling for “military action” to achieve the country’s war aims, the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Hezbollah appears increasingly remote.
The developments in Lebanon have significant implications for regional security, and the world watches with bated breath as the stakes grow higher by the day. Will diplomacy prevail, or will the region succumb to the forces of war and instability? Only time will tell.
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