UN denounces blasts of pagers in Lebanon and Syria
UN rights chief Volker Turk urges swift measures to hold accountable those behind the widespread explosions of electronic devices throughout Lebanon. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Volker Turk, the United Nations' human rights commissioner, described the recent mass detonation of electronic devices that resulted in at least 37 deaths and thousands of injuries across Lebanon and Syria as a "shocking" violation of international human rights law. Speaking on Wednesday, Turk emphasized the urgent need to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the attack, as stated on the UN's official website.
The series of explosions occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, affecting a variety of electronic devices such as pagers, walkie-talkies, and laptops. These devices reportedly exploded simultaneously, mainly affecting members of Hezbollah, a significant Iranian-backed political and paramilitary organization in Lebanon, although numerous civilians were also harmed in the process.
Following the incident, accusations pointing to Israel's involvement were made by both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, with threats of retaliation issued. Despite these claims, Israel has maintained a stance of neither confirmation nor denial concerning the attack. Media sources have suggested the possibility of Mossad's involvement, alleging that the Israeli intelligence service had equipped the devices with explosives to be triggered remotely, in anticipation of escalating conflicts with Hezbollah.
Turk condemned the attacks as fundamentally unacceptable, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of targeting thousands of individuals without precise information on the possession, location, or immediate environment of the targeted devices. He stressed the urgent need for an "independent, thorough and transparent investigation" to uncover the full details of the incident and to ensure accountability for those directing and executing the acts.
Furthermore, Turk appealed to international entities with influence in the region to assist in de-escalating tensions to prevent a full-scale war between Lebanon and Israel, underlining the critical importance of prioritizing civilian protection.
In related news, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah had been escalating amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah had been engaging in sporadic drone and missile attacks on northern Israel as a form of retaliation, urging an end to the Israeli actions in Gaza. Israeli officials had articulated threats of a significant offensive in Lebanon, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announcing the onset of a "new phase" in Israel's military efforts, shifting focus to Hezbollah and reallocating the majority of military resources to the Lebanese border.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
The series of explosions occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, affecting a variety of electronic devices such as pagers, walkie-talkies, and laptops. These devices reportedly exploded simultaneously, mainly affecting members of Hezbollah, a significant Iranian-backed political and paramilitary organization in Lebanon, although numerous civilians were also harmed in the process.
Following the incident, accusations pointing to Israel's involvement were made by both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, with threats of retaliation issued. Despite these claims, Israel has maintained a stance of neither confirmation nor denial concerning the attack. Media sources have suggested the possibility of Mossad's involvement, alleging that the Israeli intelligence service had equipped the devices with explosives to be triggered remotely, in anticipation of escalating conflicts with Hezbollah.
Turk condemned the attacks as fundamentally unacceptable, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of targeting thousands of individuals without precise information on the possession, location, or immediate environment of the targeted devices. He stressed the urgent need for an "independent, thorough and transparent investigation" to uncover the full details of the incident and to ensure accountability for those directing and executing the acts.
Furthermore, Turk appealed to international entities with influence in the region to assist in de-escalating tensions to prevent a full-scale war between Lebanon and Israel, underlining the critical importance of prioritizing civilian protection.
In related news, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah had been escalating amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah had been engaging in sporadic drone and missile attacks on northern Israel as a form of retaliation, urging an end to the Israeli actions in Gaza. Israeli officials had articulated threats of a significant offensive in Lebanon, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announcing the onset of a "new phase" in Israel's military efforts, shifting focus to Hezbollah and reallocating the majority of military resources to the Lebanese border.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
