The Israeli prime minister's office said Benjamin Netanyahu had given the go-ahead to carry out the pager attack that dealt a deadly blow to Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. According to information from Reuters, the attack, in which thousands of pagers were used, consisted of simultaneous explosions that caused serious destruction in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other "Hezbollah" strongholds, reports BTA.
The attack, which took place on September 17, resulted in a large number of casualties and injuries. In the explosions, the pagers beeped for an incoming message, after which the devices exploded, seriously injuring bystanders. Among the victims were many with eye injuries, severed fingers and severe abdominal wounds. As a result of the pager attack and subsequent walkie-talkie explosions, 39 people died and over 3,400 were injured.
The Israeli military initially declined to comment on the attack, but Israeli media later reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed responsibility for the operation during a cabinet meeting. According to sources, he said that while there was opposition from senior defense officials and political circles in Israel, he decided to go ahead with the operation.
Following the pager attack, Israel carried out an airstrike that killed the leader of "Hezbollah" Hassan Nasrallah. In addition, Israel launched ground operations in southern Lebanon in response to attacks by the Lebanese group.
This attack is part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and "Hezbollah", which is part of wider tensions in the region since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.