A deadly attack in Lebanon against Hezbollah involving exploding pagers has raised tensions in the region. The Taiwanese manufacturer linked to the pagers denied making them, stating they were manufactured by a company in Europe. The attack killed at least nine people and wounded almost 3,000, with Hezbollah blaming Israel and vowing revenge. Israel has not directly commented, but did mention a focus on readiness in both offence and defence. The blasts exploited low-tech pagers used by Hezbollah to prevent tracking of members. Hospitals in Lebanon were overwhelmed with patients, and a field hospital was set up to accommodate the wounded. The US is trying to de-escalate tensions between the two sides amid concerns of a potential ground invasion of Lebanon by Israel. The attack comes amidst broader aims by Israel in the conflict sparked by Hamas attacks. The explosions were in Hezbollah strongholds, with sources labeling the attack as the group’s largest breach in security in decades. The incident threatens to disrupt efforts by the US to prevent retaliations against Israel. Hamas described the attack as an escalation that would lead to Israel’s defeat. The US and other parties are closely monitoring the situation and its implications.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
European-made pagers used in deadly attack on Hezbollah as Middle East prepares for retaliations | Lebanon
