Israel blew up thousands of two-way personal radios used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon in a second wave of an intelligence operation that started on Tuesday with the explosions of pager devices, two sources with knowledge of the operation told Axios.
Why it matters: The second wave of clandestine attacks is another serious security breach in Hezbollah's ranks and increases the pressure on the militant Lebanese group.
Lebanon's official news agency reported that at least three people were killed and dozens wounded in the explosions across the country.
The walkie-talkies were booby-trapped in advance by Israeli intelligence services and then delivered to Hezbollah as part of the militia's emergency communications system, which was supposed to be used during a war with Israel, the sources said.
The attack further damages Hezbollah's military command and control system.
Driving the news: On Tuesday, Israeli intelligence services blew up thousands of pager devices used by members of Hezbollah's military units and institutions.
At least nine people were killed, including a child, and more than 2,800 were wounded in the attack.
On Wednesday afternoon local time during the funerals of some of the Hezbollah members killed in the first attack, a second wave of explosions took place.
Videos circulating on social media showed an explosion during one of the funerals that resulted in one Hezbollah guard wounded on the floor.
Numerous other explosions were reported in Beirut and across Lebanon —some of them in apartments and houses.
One source said that because they were meant to be used only during war with Israel, a large number of the walkie-talkies were in storage in Hezbollah warehouses.
Behind the scenes: The two sources said Israel's goal in the second wave of attacks was to increase paranoia and fear in Hezbollah's ranks, in an attempt to press the militia's leadership to change its policy regarding the conflict with Israel.
"The goal was to convince Hezbollah that it is in its interest to disconnect itself from Hamas and cut a separate deal for ending the fighting with Israel regardless of a ceasefire in Gaza," the source said.
The two sources added that the decision to conduct the second attack was also driven by the assessment that Hezbollah's investigation into the pager explosions would likely expose the security breach in the walkie-talkies.
What they're saying: A few hours before the second wave of explosions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press conference in Egypt that the U.S. wasn't involved and had no knowledge of the pager attack.
He said all parties must avoid taking steps that escalate the conflict and widen it to more fronts.
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Israel meletakkan bahan letupan dalam kumpulan alat kelui buatan Taiwan yang diimport ke Lubnan dan dituju ke Hezbullah, lapor New York Times, memetik kenyataan pegawai Amerika dan lain-lain taklimat mengenai operasi itu.
- kerja mereka very systematic, licik tak terfikir oleh kita, Dari first point mula sampai sasaran akhir semua tepat. Agent mereka ada di mana-mana. Ini mungkin warning kepada negara-negara lain juga.
“It was a use it or lose it moment,” a U.S. official told the news outlet when explaining Israel’s reasoning for carrying out the sabotage attack on September 17.
kalau alat kelui dan walkie talkie pun boleh meletup... apatah lagi kapal terbang
Post time 19-9-2024 09:06 AMFrom the mobile phone|Show all posts
Bagus lah kena sabotag awal.... Mahu perang apa lagi... Palestine israel sudah seperti shithole...doniawee sangat... Bukan tentang tohan and agama lagi... Fucked up erebs
Hezbollah mmg order pager secara bulk. Mossad berjaya hijack supply chain dan masukkan bahan letupan sebelum shipment kepada hezbollah. Memang brilliant plan. Mcm dalam movie pulak. Puak hezbollah yang lalai dalam memastikan peralatan mereka tidak di-tamper sewaktu penghantaran.
Post time 20-9-2024 09:26 AMFrom the mobile phone|Show all posts
Lar..dia dh siap2 osg bomb Ler dlm tu..mmgla meletup.upahla org dalam buat keje .org melayu hidung pesek pn ada ramai jadi agen Israel..apatahlagi kt sana