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Israel bombarded Lebanon after Hezbollah leader vowed retaliation
Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes across southern Lebanon yesterday, one of the most intense bombardments in the country this year.
The strikes came hours after Hezbollah’s leader vowed that “retribution will come” to Israel for the explosions of Hezbollah members’ hand-held devices. At least 37 people were killed and more than 2,900 others injured in those explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s the latest.
In his televised speech, the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said, “Indeed, we have endured a severe and cruel blow.” He also warned that Israel would “face just retribution and a bitter reckoning.”
Shortly after he spoke, the Israeli military carried out more than 70 airstrikes across southern Lebanon, according to three senior Lebanese security officials.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any role in the explosions, but a dozen current and former defense and intelligence officials who were briefed on the attack involving pagers on Tuesday said the Israelis were behind it.
An elaborate ruse: The operation was complex and long in the making, according to the officials. Israel established a shell company posing as an international pager producer which began shipping to Lebanon in the summer of 2022. These pagers contained batteries laced with an explosive. Read the full story behind the Israeli operation.
