The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a wave of airstrikes against southern Lebanon on Thursday, just two days after thousands of pagers, believed to have been rigged with explosives by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, exploded, injuring thousands of people. The attacks mark what Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describes as “a new phase” in the conflict with Hezbollah.
Tuesday’s blasts killed at least 12 people and injured more than 3,000, many of them civilians. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the attacks a “declaration of war”. The incident was followed by more explosions on Wednesday, this time targeting walkie-talkies, bringing the death toll to 37, including two children.
Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the blasts, US, Israeli and Lebanese sources indicate that the Mossad was behind the sophisticated sabotage targeting Hezbollah’s communications units. According to these reports, Mossad had hidden small explosive devices in the pagers and radios used by Hezbollah members throughout Lebanon and in parts of Syria.
Shift in focus
Following the blasts, Defense Minister Gallant announced that Israel was now focusing its military efforts on Hezbollah, signaling a shift from its previous focus on Hamas in Gaza. Thursday’s airstrikes, which targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, mark the beginning of a “new phase” in the nearly year-long conflict, the defense minister said.
During the airstrikes, it was also confirmed that Ibrahim Aqil, a senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, was killed in a precision strike in Beirut. Aqil was known for his responsibility in Hezbollah’s military operations and was a key figure in several attacks against Israel. His death is seen as a major blow to the Hezbollah leadership.
International reaction has been strong, with growing concern that the already tense situation in the Middle East could escalate into a wider regional conflict.
