The world is holding its breath as a wave of explosions rocked Lebanon, killing at least 37 people in two days. Israel seems to implicitly acknowledge its signature in a highly complex operation by the secret services, which managed to blow up thousands of communications devices used by Hezbollah members.
As is customary in such matters – and as happened recently with the assassination operation of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran – Israel neither confirms nor denies, but some statements by its Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, coinciding with the wave of explosions warn of a possible escalation. “The center of gravity is shifting north, diverting resources and forces [allí]”We are at the beginning of a new phase of the war that requires courage, determination and perseverance from us,” the minister said during a visit to the Ramat David air base.
For his part, Defense Chief of Staff Herz Halevi assured that Israel had capabilities beyond those used so far. “The next two phases of the war are now ready to move forward,” he said.
Minutes after the second wave of explosions, Benjamin Netanyahu also posted a cryptic message in a 10-second video in which he did not mention the explosions: “I have already said that we will bring the people of the north safely home and that is exactly what we are going to do.
Hezbollah Executive Council head Hashem Sadfieddine has promised a “unique punishment” and “bloody revenge.” The organization’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, will make a statement on Thursday about the recent attacks. “We will be in a new situation and a new confrontation with this enemy,” Sadfieddine said.
Shortly before the surprise walkie-talkie explosions on Wednesday, which killed 25 people and injured more than 600, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had denounced that Tuesday’s attack posed a “serious risk of dramatic escalation in Lebanon.” “Clearly, the logic of detonating these devices is to do so as a preemptive strike before a major military operation,” Guterres said.
International reactions
“I can only condemn these attacks which endanger the security and stability of Lebanon and increase the risk of escalation in the region,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. “The European Union calls on all parties to avoid an all-out war, which would have serious consequences for the entire region and beyond.”
Borrell also denounced the operation because of the high “collateral damage.” “Even if the attacks appear to have been selective, they have caused serious and indiscriminate collateral damage among the civilian population: several children are among the victims. “I consider this situation extremely worrying,” he said.
“Once again, the indiscriminate method used is unacceptable due to the inevitable and heavy collateral damage among civilians and the consequences for the entire population, including fear and terror, and the collapse of hospitals,” Borrell added after the second wave of attacks: “The risk of a military escalation, with devastating consequences for the entire region, requires urgent action.”
For his part, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that those responsible for the deadly wave of explosions “must be held accountable”, stressing the illegality of the operation.
“Simultaneously attacking thousands of people, civilians or members of armed groups, without knowing who was in possession of the devices, their location and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international law,” Türk said.
The operation prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to travel to Egypt to try to broker a ceasefire deal in what has become one of the most tense moments since the conflict began. The U.S. priority throughout this period has not been stopping Israel but avoiding regional escalation, experts say, and these actions undermine its goals.
Blinken denied having any prior knowledge of the operation in Lebanon, but multiple sources told CNN that Israel announced Tuesday that it would conduct an operation in Lebanon, without providing further details. Gallant even spoke on the phone with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
In the UK, the newly elected chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Emily Thornberry, suggested that Israel’s allies should ask themselves “what are they doing?” “We are really concerned about what is happening in Lebanon. The big question is: why? Why is this happening now? And what will be the outcome? Is this the first step? What will Israel do next? “Is this part of a bigger plan?” asks Thornberry, a Labour MP.
For its part, the British Foreign Office was much more cautious: “We continue to closely monitor the situation in Lebanon and the United Kingdom is working with its diplomatic and humanitarian partners in the region. The civilian casualties from these explosions are very worrying. “We call for calm and de-escalation at this critical time.”
Iran called the action a “terrorist operation” and said it “contravenes all moral and human principles, international law, in particular international humanitarian law, and justifies criminal prosecution, trials and international sanctions.” For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the attacks were “deliberately” designed to “provoke a major war in the Middle East.”
Lebanon has received medical aid from Iran, Iraq and Jordan. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his country rejected any attempts at escalation in the region, offering its support to Lebanon. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his sadness over the explosions to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and said he would try to stop Israel’s “attempts” to “prolong the war.”
