Lebanon was struck by a wave of deadly explosions, killing at least 32 people and injuring over 2,750, according to health officials. The attacks on Lebanon and its people began on Tuesday, September 17th, when a series of pagers exploded, claimed 12 lives and left thousands wounded, including children. The explosions continued the following day when other personal devices, such as walkie-talkies, exploded as well, killing another 20 and injuring at least 450. The Lebanese government has condemned these attacks as “criminal Israeli aggression,” further escalating tensions in the region.
Reports indicate that the initial attack targeting Hezbollah was a joint operation carried out by Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad, and the Israeli military. However, Israel has refrained from publicly commenting on the situation. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the two consecutive days of device explosions, urging all actors involved to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.
Israeli officials notified the United States about the planned operation in Lebanon beforehand but did not provide specific details. Consequently, U.S. officials were caught off-guard when news of the explosions began to surface. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. “did not know about nor was it involved in these incidents,” calling on all parties to avoid actions that could further escalate the conflict.
The explosive devices were supposedly targeting Hezbollah members, but were detonated when those members were not on active duty. Pager explosions occurred across Lebanon in supermarkets, on buses, and on streets, injuring and killing civilians and children. One of the explosions, which took place on Wednesday following the Tuesday attack, occurred next to a funeral that was being held for people who had died in the first wave of explosions.
By definition, terrorism is the use of violence against non-combatants to influence government or intimidate the public, violence which involves civilians and children and leads to deaths. Reports claim that Lebanese people who survived the attacks were scared to use devices such as phones and laptops for fear that the Israeli government had planted explosives in them.
Hezbollah, the militant group targeted by these attacks, has vowed retribution against Israel. The group has long relied on low-tech communication devices, like pagers, to avoid infiltration from Israeli and U.S. spyware. The recent explosions have not only caused significant casualties but also punctured one of Hezbollah’s key military advantages: its secrecy. Retired FBI agent Steve Moore described the attacks as indicating a “massive intelligence breach” in Hezbollah’s operations.
As of now, Lebanon’s hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of wounded. The American University of Beirut Medical Center received nearly 200 patients within two hours. The situation remains volatile, with many in the region bracing for potential retaliation from Hezbollah, raising concerns over a possible larger-scale conflict in the Middle East.
