Israel carried out two terrorist attacks across Lebanon this week, bringing the entire region ever closer to the brink of all-out war. These are the actions of a rogue state and the direct result of a climate of total impunity.
Thousands of pagers and two-way radios laden with explosives were detonated across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The explosions went off in crowded supermarkets, on busy roads, and in homes, schools, and hospitals. The attack maimed over 3,000 people and killed at least thirty, among them children.
“Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any role in the explosions,” the New York Times reported, “but 12 current and former defense and intelligence officials who were briefed on the attack say the Israelis were behind it, describing the operation as complex and long in the making.”
Cars and apartments were set alight and hospitals overwhelmed with thousands of casualties. Because the devices in question began beeping repeatedly before they exploded, many victims were holding them close to their faces when they detonated, causing horrifying injuries.
Much of the mainstream Western media has marveled at the so-called “precision” and “sophistication” of the attack, framing it as an operation intended only to target members of Hezbollah. This is patently false, as numerous civilians have been injured and killed.
Israel’s real aim was clear: to stoke fear and mass panic among an entire population. During the second attack on Wednesday, explosions could be heard during the funeral of four people killed the previous day. Unconfirmed reports indicated that solar panels and ATMs detonated during the attacks, too. People across Lebanon have said they are afraid to use any electronic devices.
There’s…
La suite est à lire sur: jacobin.com
Auteur: Madeleine Hall
