The recent deadly pager explosions in Lebanon are part of "Israel's" wider regional strategy and mark a deliberate escalation of the situation, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned on Thursday.

Lebanon's Health Minister Firass al-Abiad said 37 people were killed and 2,931 were wounded in Israeli electronic attacks that led to the explosion of hand-held devices used by Hezbollah members.

Al-Abiad said 25 people were killed on Wednesday and 12 on Tuesday, updating an earlier toll of 32 killed overall.

During an appearance at Anadolu’s Editor's Desk, Fidan explained that the explosions, which resulted in dozens of martyrs and over 3,000 injuries, are part of a situation that has been simmering for about a year.

He recalled that "Israel" initially concentrated its military efforts on the Gaza Strip, where it has killed more than 41,000 people since October 7, adding, however, that its attention now seems to be shifting toward Lebanon.

"The escalation in the region is alarming," Fidan said. "We see Israel mounting its attacks towards Lebanon step by step."

The Turkish minister referred to the recent attacks as "opportunity operations", a term from intelligence that denotes such targeted strikes.

Fidan, who previously led Turkiye’s intelligence agency, pointed out that "Israel’s" access to both technical and human intelligence on Hezbollah has played a significant role in the current situation in Lebanon, which includes the pager explosions and the escalating situation along the northern border of occupied Palestine.

While Fidan highlighted that such attacks are not entirely new, he emphasized that their scale and the impact on thousands of people have made them particularly consequential.

"This is something that intelligence organizations use very often," he said. "But this one was on a large scale."

He also mentioned extending his condolences and well-wishes to the Lebanese Prime Minister, offering Turkiye’s medical assistance to those critically injured in the attacks.

The top diplomat raised concerns about the intensifying nature of Israeli operations, warning that their increasingly provocative actions may force groups like Hezbollah and nations such as Iran to retaliate.

"We have come to a point where these operations carried out by Israel have become increasingly provocative, and in return, Iran, Hezbollah, and elements close to them have no choice but to respond," he said.

Fidan further emphasized Turkiye’s proactive measures in strengthening its cybersecurity defenses, with plans to potentially establish a new cybersecurity agency.

He highlighted the broader risks of escalation, suggesting that the situation could evolve from a "regional conflict" into a near-global crisis.

"While we are currently thinking about Lebanon, there is always a risk of a war that may involve Jordan, Egypt, and the entire region," he said.

"Does Israel want permanent peace or does it want to eliminate everything it sees a threat by using classical war methods?" the Turkish minister asked.

"Currently, the fanatic government in Israel is pursuing a strategy to eliminate all threats," he indicated.

"The international system needs to stop this before it is too late."

Elsewhere, reflecting on his recent visit to Jordan, Fidan noted that the country had raised its military alert due to developments in the West Bank.

Read more: EU's Borrell condemns pager attacks on Lebanon that risk escalation

Lebanon blasts must be thoroughly investigated: Russian Duma speaker

In a related context, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin considered that the explosions of various devices in Lebanon require a comprehensive investigation, urging international bodies to devise measures to combat such crimes.

Volodin warned on his Telegram channel that the meticulously planned, high-tech attack could have serious global repercussions. He highlighted that the use of ordinary gadgets as explosive devices necessitates "an appropriate investigation."

The Russian official warned that the potential for mass production of "such ‘weapons’ takes terrorism to a new level."

"This is a global threat to all countries. International structures must develop measures against such crimes. Otherwise, no one will feel safe," he underlined.

Touching on "Israel's" attack which detonated pagers among Lebanese civilians in the south, Beirut, and the Bekaa regions, security sources revealed to Al Mayadeen that "Israel" used an international company, a civilian device, along with control over the cyber world, and made a decision to deliberately commit mass murder.

The sources explained that the material used in the complex operation could bypass all scanning equipment available even in countries and airports around the world as the explosive material is undetectable. In other words, the explosive material is "specially designed for this mission."

Contrary to initial assumptions, it was not the pager batteries that caused the explosions, but the lithium within them that caused the detonation. The blast was triggered through advanced technology, which transmitted a message activating the explosives.

Additionally, the sources revealed that the explosives, often waist-strapped, were intended to cause maximum harm by directly impacting the body. It was noted that pager units that were either turned off or located in areas without coverage did not explode, as well as older pager models.

That being said, the sources then expanded by explaining that the pagers had been "rigged from source via their IC (Integrated Circuit) units," where the explosive material was contained.

In conclusion, the security sources reaffirmed what the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon had stated with certainty hours after the terrorist attack, stating that Israeli Mossad and Military Intelligence (Aman) were behind this aggression.

Read more: Japanese firm says no longer produces radio involved in Lebanon blasts