John Gong
Last September, thousands of electronic devices such as pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across multiple locations in Lebanon and Syria, primarily targeting Hezbollah members in Lebanon. These incidents resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. The United Nations, the European Union, and other entities issued statements condemning the attacks, urging all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalating regional tensions.
Al Jazeera quoted a Hezbollah official as saying that the pagers “exploded just seconds after receiving a suspected message from Hezbollah leadership.” Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported that the incident caused over 4,000 injuries and more than a dozen deaths. The UN Secretary-General called on all governments to comply with Security Council Resolution 1701, emphasizing that civilian equipment must not be weaponized and urging effective controls. Jeanine Antoinette Hennis-Plasschaert, the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, warned on social media that any actions escalating the situation could risk catastrophic consequences. Josep Borrell, the E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, condemned these attacks as jeopardizing Lebanon’s security and stability and increasing the risk of conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Lebanon, stating that France stands with the Lebanese people. Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who exposed the United States P.R.I.S.M. surveillance program, commented on social media that the operation was “indistinguishable from terrorism.”
Outside the Middle East, European media widely condemned Israel’s actions. Reuters reported that this incident has raised unprecedented doubts about the safety of U.S. electronic products. If the U.S. fails to prove their safety, it could lead to a significant decline in trust in American electronics. Reports indicate that diplomats from the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and Italy convened in Paris on September 19 to discuss the escalating tensions in the Middle East. On September 20, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting regarding the incident. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized Israel’s actions during a call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, describing them as “extremely dangerous” for the escalation of regional conflicts and assured Turkey’s continued efforts to curb “Israeli aggression.”
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