Published 09/19/2024 12:22 PM | Edited 09/19/2024 01:57 PM
A day after Israel caused panic in Lebanon with an unprecedented attack using pager bombs, Lebanon registered more explosions in several cities on Wednesday (18), focused on walkie-talkies used by the Shiite group Hezbollah. With the attack, the death toll in the two Israeli operations rises to 37, Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported on Thursday (19), who also stated that there are 3,539 injured.
Of the dead, 12 were killed in the detonation of between 3,000 and 4,000 pagers on Tuesday, including eight Hezbollah members and two children, and the other 25 were killed in the explosion of walkie-talkies on Wednesday, including 20 from the Lebanese group.
According to Reuters, explosions were reported in the capital Beirut and the southern cities of Nabatieh, Tyre and Sidon. The National News Agency said there were also explosions of solar panels and biometric devices in homes in several parts of the country.
The new round of explosions will further heighten regional tensions. Hezbollah had vowed revenge for the attack, which left at least 500 people blind and hundreds maimed. It is not known how many victims were from the group and how many were civilians.
Without assuming the responsibility that even its allies attribute to it, Israel stated that a new phase of the war that began after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, is in sight.
“The center of gravity is moving north [Líbano]. We are diverting forces, resources and energy to the north. I believe we are at the beginning of a new phase of this war, and we have to adapt,” the Defense Minister said.
Yoav Gallant’s comments came hours after a source told CNN that the Israeli military is moving the elite 98th Division from the Gaza Strip to northern Israel.
“I understand that we are at the beginning of a new era in this war and we need to adapt,” he highlighted.
“This is true for everyone, certainly for those who are on the air or control what is on the air. Because the position here is stronger, it is not Hamas, it is something else and we need to prepare for this matter properly, take this into consideration,” he added.
The Israeli cabinet has officially added the return of tens of thousands of Israelis to their homes in the north as a war objective.
“The center of gravity is moving north. The meaning is that we are diverting forces, resources, energy to the north,” Gallant explained.
Source: vermelho.org.br
