Netanyahu confirms Israel's role in deadly Hezbollah pager, walkie-talkie attacks

Tel Aviv: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed for the first time during Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting that Israel was behind the deadly attacks on Hezbollah’s communication devices, which resulted in significant casualties. The attacks, which took place on September 17 and 18, targeted thousands of pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members across Lebanon and Syria.

"The pager operation and the elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defence establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon," Netanyahu reportedly said, in a not-very-oblique dig at IDF and intelligence chiefs, as well as his recently fired defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

At least 39 people were killed, and over 3,000 others were injured, according to reports. The explosions caused widespread damage, and the casualties included both Hezbollah members and civilians, though it is unclear how many of the injured were combatants.

The attack and its aftermath

The attack was carried out in two separate waves, striking Hezbollah’s communication equipment. The Israeli government had previously refused to claim responsibility, but Netanyahu’s admission has confirmed Israel’s involvement.

According to reports from Lebanon, the attacks were highly sophisticated and involved Israel tricking Hezbollah into purchasing compromised devices. This operation is believed to have been years in the making, involving careful planning and intelligence gathering. Following the explosions, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s command structure in Lebanon, and the military has also been conducting a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon.

Political tensions and changes in leadership

The news comes amid ongoing political tension within Israel. Just last week, Netanyahu dismissed Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, citing a breakdown in trust between the two. Gallant was replaced by Israel Katz, who had previously served as Israel’s foreign minister. The two had clashed multiple times during their time in government.

Rising death toll

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to claim lives. Lebanon’s health ministry recently reported that the death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war has now surpassed 3,000. This figure includes both civilians and combatants, but it is not broken down further. On the Israeli side, the IDF has estimated that about 3,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed during the ongoing conflict, along with around 100 members of other militant groups.

Agency