US fears escalation following terror attack on Lebanon: The Guardian
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Israeli media reports suggest Mossad agents planted the explosives before the devices were sold to Lebanon.
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Families of victims who were injured on Tuesday by their exploding handheld pagers, wait at the emergency entrance of the American University hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A report from The Guardian detailed on Wednesday that the recent terrorist attack on Lebanon, which detonated hundreds of pagers used by civilians, has escalated tensions in the region.
The timing of the attack could not be worse for American diplomacy, as US officials had been working to prevent further violence between "Israel" and the Lebanese Resistance.
Just a day before the attack, Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden, was in "Israel" urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid an escalation in Lebanon.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant also stressed that time was running out to reach a negotiated settlement.
Read more: Explosions erupt in Lebanon, radio receivers targeted
The attack, which is suspected to have resulted from a supply-chain breaching, disrupted civilian communications by rigging pager devices with explosives.
Israeli media reported suggest Mossad agents planted the explosives before the devices were sold to Lebanon.
With the detonation of these devices, there are concerns that the attack may be a prelude to a broader regional conflict.
Footage from southern Lebanon showed young men with severe injuries crowding hospital corridors, raising fears that "Israel" may capitalize on Lebanon's disarray.
The Israeli regime has indicated plans to broaden its war aims, potentially setting the stage for a ground invasion into Lebanon.
The move could give Netanyahu a justification for further military aggressions, a scenario that US officials have been allegedly trying to avoid.
Read more: Explosives used in pager attack can bypass scanning: Security sources
Meanwhile, US diplomacy faces setbacks, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveling to the Middle East to discuss "peace efforts", but no progress on a ceasefire in Gaza.
Additionally, internal tensions within the Israeli regime may complicate negotiations, as Security Minister Gallant, who has criticized Netanyahu, could be replaced by Gideon Saar, a more hardline figure.
Hezbollah has vowed retaliation following the attack, while the US has issued warnings to Iran, despite Iran having no direct involvement in the situation.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller urged Iran "not to take advantage of any incident to add further instability or increase tensions in the region."
