BEIRUT, Lebanon – Militant group Hezbollah promised to retaliate in opposition to Israel after accusing it of detonating pagers throughout Lebanon on Tuesday, September 17, killing 9 individuals and wounding almost 3,000 others who included fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut.
Lebanese Data Minister Ziad Makary condemned the late-afternoon detonation of the pagers — handheld units that Hezbollah and others in Lebanon use to ship messages — as an “Israeli aggression.” Hezbollah mentioned Israel would obtain “its honest punishment” for the blasts.
The Israeli navy, which has been engaged in cross-border combating with Iran-backed Hezbollah for the reason that begin of the Gaza struggle in October, declined to reply to questions concerning the detonations.
The dying toll rose from eight to 9 on Tuesday evening whereas the variety of injured remained at 2,750, Lebanon’s well being ministry mentioned.
Hezbollah confirmed in an earlier assertion that the deaths included at the very least two of its fighters and a younger lady.
The pagers exploded in southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut generally known as Dahiyeh and the japanese Bekaa Valley – all Hezbollah strongholds.
In a single occasion, closed-circuit surveillance video carried by regional broadcasters confirmed an individual paying at a grocery retailer as what gave the impression to be a small handheld gadget positioned subsequent to the cashier exploded.
A Hezbollah official, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned the incident was the “largest safety breach” for the group in almost a yr of battle with Israel.
The New York Instances reported that Israel hid explosive materials within the Taiwan-made Gold Apollo pagers earlier than they had been imported to Lebanon, citing American and different officers briefed on the operation. The fabric was implanted subsequent to the battery with a swap that may very well be triggered remotely to detonate.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is waging struggle with Israel in Gaza, mentioned the pager blasts had been an “escalation” that may solely lead Israel to “failure and defeat.”
UN particular coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert deplored the assault in an announcement and mentioned it “marked a particularly regarding escalation” within the battle.
Washington mentioned it was not concerned within the explosions and didn’t know who was accountable. The US renewed requires a diplomatic resolution to tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
It urged Iran — which with its allies Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and armed teams in Iraq has fashioned an “Axis of Resistance” in opposition to Israeli and US affect — to not benefit from any incident to boost instability.
With out commenting straight on the explosions in Lebanon, an Israeli navy spokesman mentioned the chief of employees, Main Common Herzi Halevi, met with senior officers on Tuesday night to evaluate the state of affairs. No coverage change was introduced however “vigilance should proceed to be maintained”, he mentioned.
Hezbollah fighters have been utilizing pagers as a low-tech technique of communication in an try to evade Israeli location-tracking, two sources conversant in the group’s operations informed Reuters this yr. A pager is a wi-fi telecommunications gadget that receives and shows messages.
Many injured
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, suffered a “superficial damage” in Tuesday’s pager blasts and was beneath statement in hospital, Iran’s semi-official Fars information company mentioned. Reuters couldn’t instantly affirm the report.
The casualties included Hezbollah fighters who’re the sons of high officers from the armed group, two safety sources informed Reuters. A type of killed was the son of a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament, Ali Ammar, they mentioned.
“This isn’t a safety concentrating on of 1, two or three individuals. This can be a concentrating on of a whole nation,” senior Hezbollah official Hussein Khalil mentioned whereas paying his condolences for Ammar’s son.
Air France introduced late on Tuesday it was suspending flights connecting Paris with Beirut and Tel Aviv by Thursday because of safety issues.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s home safety company mentioned it had foiled a plot by Hezbollah to assassinate a former senior defence official within the coming days.
Hezbollah has mentioned it desires to keep away from all-out battle with Israel however that solely an finish to the Gaza struggle will cease the cross-border clashes. Gaza ceasefire efforts stay deadlocked after months of talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US.
Whereas they noticed a menace of escalation, specialists had been extra skeptical, for now, concerning the potential for an imminent full-scale Israel-Hezbollah struggle, which the US has sought to stop and which it believes neither aspect desires.
Screaming in ache
After Tuesday’s blasts, ambulances rushed by the southern suburbs of Beirut amid widespread panic.
At Mount Lebanon Hospital outdoors Beirut, a Reuters reporter noticed bikes dashing to the emergency room and other people with bloodied fingers screaming in ache.
The pinnacle of the Nabatieh public hospital within the south of the nation, Hassan Wazni, informed Reuters that round 40 wounded individuals had been being handled at his facility. The injuries included accidents to the face, eyes and limbs.
Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel instantly after the Oct. 7 assaults by Hamas gunmen on Israel that triggered the Gaza struggle. Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fireplace ever since, whereas avoiding a serious escalation.
Hezbollah has misplaced greater than 400 fighters in Israeli strikes over the previous yr, together with its high commander Fuad Shukr in July.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals have been displaced from cities and villages on each side of the border by the hostilities.
On Tuesday, Israel added to its formal struggle targets the return of residents to their properties close to the border with Lebanon. – Rappler.com
