The Israeli Foreign Ministry has released Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first statement following the communications bombings in Lebanon.
“I have already said: We will return the residents of the north (Israel) to their safe homes. That is what we will do.” – said.
On Tuesday, pagers went off in different areas of Lebanon. Around 2.8 thousand people were injured and 12 died. According to media reports, Hezbollah uses these devices as a closed communication system that is less susceptible to hacking and eavesdropping. The movement and Lebanese authorities blamed Israel for the incident. Hezbollah also promised Tel Aviv a tough response.
According to Reuters, the Israeli intelligence service Mossad placed explosives in 5,000 Taiwanese-made pagers ordered by the Lebanese movement. The Axios website clarified, citing sources, that the operation was approved in meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet and heads of the security services.
On Wednesday evening, a RIA Novosti source also reported explosions of communication equipment among Hezbollah members in different areas of Lebanon. As the An-Nahar newspaper clarified, this time the radios purchased by Hezbollah almost simultaneously with the pagers about five months ago detonated. Lebanese authorities reported that 20 people were killed and 450 others were injured.
