Lebanon pager explosions may be attempts to expand war: Turkey

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Sep 2024 17:34

Israeli media has stated that the main issue now is an attack in Lebanon "that could lead to a war to their residences as a fourth goal."

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Justice and Development Party's spokesman Omer Celik makes statements to the press in Turkey on January 4, 2021. (Anadolu)

Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, said Wednesday that the operation including the detonation of pagers in Lebanon may be an attempt to expand the war in the Gaza Strip from Iran to Lebanon.

In an X video, Celik told reporters that "[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's government is bent on expanding the war to evade international law and relieve pressure on itself. It wants the war to spread over a wide area from Iran to Lebanon. This has nothing to do with the defense of Israel, but is connected to political calculations."

Netanyahu hükümeti uluslararası hukukun önünden kaçmak ve üzerindeki baskıyı ortadan kaldırmak için savaşı genişletmek üzere bir tutum içerisinde.

Lübnan'da yaklaşık 2800 insanın çağrı cihazlarına dönük bu hacklemeyi yaparak, bunları bir bombaya dönüştürerek, bu insanların… pic.twitter.com/UBlNI8p530
— Ömer Çelik (@omerrcelik) September 18, 2024

Lebanon's Minister of Health, Firass Abiad, announced that the number of martyrs from the Israeli aggression on Lebanon has risen to 12, "including two children and several healthcare workers," while approximately 2,800 others were injured.

Israeli media said on Tuesday that the main issue now is an attack in Lebanon "that could lead to a war to their residences as a fourth goal."

The Israeli occupation entity "will continue to act to achieve this goal,” the statement said, triggering a series of official reactions to the potential that this means launching a war on Lebanon.

Hezbollah vows to respond

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the treacherous aggression caused by the attack after obtaining results of its probe, as well as examining available data, regarding the pager detonations earlier today.

In a statement, Hezbollah confirmed that "Israel" was behind the attack on Lebanon, which left hundreds injured, and caused several fatalities across the country.

Hezbollah vowed to respond to the Israeli aggression in ways and at times the occupation cannot estimate or anticipate.

"The treacherous and criminal enemy will undoubtedly face its just punishment for this heinous attack, in ways both expected and unforeseen," the statement read.