In a significant admission, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel was behind the mass pager explosions across Lebanon on September 17-18, which resulted in at least 26 fatalities and over 3,200 injuries. This marked the first official acknowledgement from Israel regarding the incident.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu noted that both military and political leaders had voiced objections to the operation, particularly due to anticipated opposition from the United States.
Despite these concerns, Netanyahu proceeded with the plan, which was linked to efforts against Hezbollah, including the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a later airstrike on September 27.
Since late September, Israel has intensified its airstrikes and invasion in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah during escalating regional tensions tied to the Gaza conflict. The Lebanese health ministry reports that Israeli airstrikes have led to over 3,100 deaths and injured more than 13,800 people since October 2023, following Israel’s southern invasion into Lebanon on October 1.
