Lebanon has been rocked by a second day of communication device explosions, believed 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 thousands injured.
Those on the ground injured in the chaos have been left asking how much further Israel will go. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, condemned the attacks in a fiery speech in the wake of the explosions.
Israel’s 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 who have nothing to do 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.’