Israel-Lebanon latest: Israel strikes southern Lebanon as Hezbollah says device blasts are ‘act of war’
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blames Israel for attacks on group's communications devices that left 37 dead
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The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon as the movement’s leader accused Israel of “crossing all of the red lines”, heightening fears of an escalation into a full-blown regional war.
Israeli jets were carrying out huge sonic booms over the Lebanese capital Beirut during a speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday, according to a witness.
Nasrallah blamed Israel for this week's deadly attacks on the militant group's communications devices, which he called a "severe blow" and said the group is investigating.
Hand-held walkie-talkie radios used by the armed group were detonated across Lebanon’s south on Wednesday, stoking tensions after similar explosions of the group’s pagers the day before.
The Lebanese mission to the UN said that they were detonated by “electronic messages”, and authorities had concluded the explosives had been implanted before arriving in the country.
Lebanon's health minister said on Thursday that the death toll from the second attack in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa Valley has now risen to 25, with at least 608 injured. A further 12 people were killed in explosions the previous day, including two children, with nearly 2,300 wounded.
"We are opening a new phase in the war," Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said in the aftermath, adding that his country’s military focus is shifting to its northern border.
Israel launches major strikes on Lebanon as Hezbollah chief says device explosions ‘cross all red lines’
How the plot to explode Hezbollah’s pagers and walkie-talkies unfolded
The Lebanon explosions raise a question: Deep into the smartphone era, who is still using pagers?
Japan company denies making Hezbollah walkie-talkies that exploded in Lebanon
Palestinians vow to pursue UN resolution on Israel's 'unlawful presence'
The Palestinian ambassador, Riyad Mansour, has confirmed that Palestinians will follow up on a UN resolution demanding Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the occupied West Bank within a year. This resolution was adopted by the General Assembly just a day earlier.
Mr Mansour emphasised that Palestinians will respond promptly to any non-compliance. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon sidestepped the issue, instead highlighting Israel’s role in combating Iran and the groups it backs, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
The battle, he said, “threatens the entire region and the world”.
The Palestinian and Israeli envoys spoke at a council meeting focusing on a resolution its members adopted in December 2016 demanding that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem.
UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland told the council in a video briefing that Israel has expanded - not halted - settlement activities.
Arms exports allow Israel to defend itself from Hezbollah, says Trade Secretary
Restrictions on UK arms exports to Israel are “fair” and “proportionate”, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said.
The UK suspended some arms export licences to Israel earlier this month over concerns the country is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.
Mr Reynolds said the existing arms rules still allow Israel to “defend itself” against Lebanon.
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Arms exports allow Israel to defend itself from Hezbollah, says Trade Secretary
Fears have intensified that the simmering conflict between Israel and Lebanon could escalate into all-out war.
Hezbollah chief condemns 'war crimes' as Lebanon blasts kill 37
At least 37 people were killed and around 3,000 injured in Lebanon this week after explosives-laden Hezbollah radios and pagers detonated in suspected Israeli attacks.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denounced the blasts as “crossing all red lines” in a televised address on Thursday.
“The enemy has breached all controls, laws, and morals,” he said, suggesting the attacks “could be considered war crimes or a declaration of war.”Israel has declined to comment on the incidents, which security sources attribute to its Mossad spy agency.
A letter from Lebanon’s UN mission to the Security Council alleged Israel detonated the devices remotely using pre-installed explosives and electronic messages.The Security Council is set to convene on Friday to address the crisis. Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati urged the council to take decisive action against Israel’s “aggression” and “technological war”.
Israel unleashes heavy strikes on Lebanon as US, UK urge restraint
Israeli warplanes carried out late on Thursday their most intense strikes on southern Lebanon in nearly a year of war, heightening the conflict between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah amid calls for restraint.
The White House said a diplomatic solution was achievable and urgent, and Britain called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The US is “afraid and concerned about potential escalation,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.
The intense barrage followed attacks earlier in the week attributed by Lebanon and Hezbollah to Israel that blew up Hezbollah radios and pagers, killing 37 people and wounding about 3,000 in Lebanon.
In Thursday’s late operation, Israel’s military said its jets over two hours struck hundreds of multiple-rocket-launcher barrels in southern Lebanon that were set to be fired immediately toward Israel.
The bombardment included more than 52 strikes across southern Lebanon after 9pm, Lebanon’s state news agency NNA said. Three Lebanese security sources said these were the heaviest aerial strikes since the conflict began in October.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel’s military vowed to continue to attack Hezbollah and said its strikes throughout Thursday hit about 100 rocket launchers plus other targets in southern Lebanon.
Taiwan probes possible ties to Lebanon explosions
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung denied meeting with Israel’s de facto ambassador to discuss the Lebanon attacks.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, he said: “We are asking our missions abroad to raise their security awareness and will exchange relevant information with other countries.”
Meanwhile, Taiwanese authorities are investigating potential links between local tech firm Gold Apollo and the devices used.
The Shilin District Prosecutors Office is searching four locations of the firm in Taiwan. “We’ll seek to determine if there was any possible involvement of these Taiwanese companies as soon as possible, to ensure the safety of the country and its people,” the spokesperson said.
Components for pagers used in Lebanon blasts are not from Taiwan, minister says
Components used in thousands of pagers that detonated on Tuesday in Lebanon in a deadly blow to Hezbollah were not made in Taiwan, Taiwan’s economy minister said on Friday.
Taiwan-based Gold Apollo said this week it did not manufacture the devices used in the attack, and that Budapest-based company BAC to which the pagers were traced has a license to use its brand.
It was not clear how or when the pagers were weaponised so they could be remotely detonated. The same applied to the hundreds of hand-held radios used by Hezbollah that exploded on Wednesday in a second wave of attacks.
“The components are (mainly) low-end IC (integrated circuits) and batteries,” Taiwan’s economy minister Kuo Jyh-huei told reporters.
When he was pressed on whether the parts in the pagers that exploded were made in Taiwan, he said, “I can say with certainty they were not made in Taiwan,” adding the case is being investigated by judicial authorities.
Japan company denies making Hezbollah walkie-talkies that exploded in Lebanon
The Japanese maker of the brand of walkie-talkies thought to have exploded in Lebanon has denied making the detonating devices – but has given its take on what could have been used.
Hand-held radios used by armed group Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon’s south on Wednesday, stoking tensions after similar explosions of pagers the day before.
Lebanon’s health ministry said 20 people were killed and more than 450 injured on the second attack in Beirut’s suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, while the death toll from Tuesday’s explosions rose to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 injured.
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Japan company denies making Hezbollah walkie-talkies that exploded in Lebanon
Hezbollah’s hand-held radios detonated in second attack killing 20 after 12 died in pager explosions day before
US briefed on Israel's Lebanon plans, but not specifics of attack
Israel notified US defence secretary Lloyd Austin of a planned military operation in Lebanon on Tuesday, but provided no details, according to US officials. Hours later, thousands of pagers belonging to Hezbollah militants mysteriously exploded, killing at least 37 people, including two children, and injuring around 3,000.
The pager explosions were part of a coordinated attack on Hezbollah members, many of whom were seriously wounded. The devices, rigged with small amounts of explosives, detonated in several areas with strong Hezbollah presence, including Beirut’s Dahieh suburb, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Austin had multiple conversations throughout the week, fueling concerns of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The US acknowledged being briefed after the initial attack but claimed surprise at the specifics of the operations. Notably, the US denied receiving advance warning of the second wave of attacks targeting walkie-talkie radios.
Taiwanese pager firm chief questioned over Hezbollah explosions
Taipei prosecutors grilled Gold Apollo president Hsu Ching-kuang late on Thursday over links to thousands of pagers used in blasts targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Mr Hsu denied manufacturing the devices, blaming Budapest-based BAC, which licenses Gold Apollo’s brand. However, destroyed pagers analysed by Reuters bore stickers and formatting consistent with Gold Apollo products.
Mr Hsu declined comment as he left the prosecutors’ office. A second individual, Teresa Wu of Apollo Systems Ltd, was also questioned. Mr Hsu said this week a person called Ms Teresa had been one of his contacts for the deal with Hungary-based firm BAC.
Company records show Apollo Systems was set up by Wu in April this year. It was not immediately clear what the relationship is between her company and BAC.
Taiwan’s government has said it is investigating what happened and police have made several visits to Hsu’s company, in a small, unassuming office in Taipei’s next door city of New Taipei.
Exploding device attacks in Lebanon ‘utterly despicable’, says Harris
The exploding device attacks in the Lebanon are “utterly despicable and extraordinarily dangerous”, the Taoiseach has said.
Simon Harris said the safety of Irish troops currently based in the country on UN missions was an “absolute priority” for the Government.
“There are basic rules around engagement, even in conflict, and at the very core is the idea that you don’t send explosive devices in among civilian populations and to watch explosions taking place in supermarkets,” he said.
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Exploding device attacks in Lebanon ‘utterly despicable’, says Harris
The Taoiseach said the safety of Irish troops stationed in Lebanon was an “absolute priority” for the Government.
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