Yesterday, Lebanon was rocked by a second day of walkie-talkie and pager explosions, thought to be orchestrated by Israeli intelligence services.
The attacks, intended to target members of Hezbollah, have left at least 20 people dead – two of them children – and hundreds injured.
Those on the ground injured in the chaos have been left asking how much further Israel will go.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared yesterday that the attacks are a ‘new phase’ in war.
He said: ‘We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance.’ He added that the ‘results are very impressive’.
Mariam Karouny, a journalist based in Lebanon, told Metro the explosions yesterday were a ‘surprise’ to everyone – and said fear on the ground is spreading as civilians not involved with Hezbollah have been left injured as well.
Ms Karouny explained: ‘People are shocked and angry at Israel. Many have been saying ‘This is what Israel really is’, and ‘it shows they want to kill everyone’.
‘People feel that Israel won’t spare anyone.’
Dr Luca Trenta, Associate Professor at Swansea University, told RUSI: ‘The mass explosion of pagers belonging to Hezbollah fighters and supporters across Lebanon – widely attributed to Israel – constitutes a major security breach for the militant group.
‘The number of pagers distributed is also impressive, as is the ability to modify them to explode simultaneously. Such prowess also entails an ability to interfere effectively in a supply and distribution chain.
‘Israel has increasingly shown a tendency to escalate the fighting, bringing the region to the precipice of a wider war.’
Lebanese journalist Hassan Harfoush told the Mail: ‘Beirut has collapsed into panic. The WhatsApp groups are going non-stop. There are wild rumours doing the rounds that solar panels might explode, batteries, fridges – anything.
‘There’s fake news saying phones have exploded. I know it’s stupid but I even told my parents to get a fire extinguisher, just in case something blows up in the house.’
The question remains – if intelligence services are able to conduct a mission with such old technology, how far can they go when it comes to utilising civilian items for future attacks?
The explosions have prompted fears of a wider conflict between Israel and their northern neighbour, Lebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Gallant added that after months of war against Hamas, ‘the centre of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces.’
Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, whose military declined to comment on the blasts. The two sides have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the Gaza conflict erupted last October, fuelling fears of a wider Middle East conflict that could drag in the United States and Iran.
A full-blown war with Israel could devastate Lebanon, which has lurched from one crisis to another in recent years, including a 2019 financial collapse and the 2020 Beirut port blast.
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