As I had recommended in my previous blog, Damascus-based journalist, Vanessa Beeley did indeed provide further information about the horrific mass casualty pager attack during UK Column’s news broadcast on Wednesday, September 18th which I highly recommend watching, if you haven’t already.
What happened with the pagers was also discussed during the following Forum for Democracy International roundtable with Peter Lavelle, John Laughland, Jeremy Nell aka Germ, Kevork Almassian and Vanessa Beeley.
The day following the heinous detonation of pagers in Lebanon Israel shifted its cyber attack on Lebanon to walkie talkies. This resulted in Lebanese authorities banning the use of both devices as reported by The Cradle.
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) said in a statement on 19 September that its specialized units were detonating pagers and suspicious communication devices across the country following two days of Israeli terror attacks on Lebanon involving the use of rigged pagers and walkie-talkies.
“Specialized army units are detonating suspicious pagers and communication devices in different areas, so citizens are urged to stay away from explosion sites, report any suspicious device or object and not approach it,” the army statement read.
The statement came as the Lebanese government decided to issue a ban against the carrying of any wireless communications devices on board airplanes.
Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an order to “all airlines operating at Beirut International Airport prohibiting the transport of any pager or walkie-talkie device on board the aircraft,” according to the National News Agency (NNA).
“All airlines operating at Beirut Rafic Hariri Airport are requested to inform all passengers departing through the airport that, until further notice, it is prohibited to carry any pager or walkie-talkie device on board the aircraft, whether inside a suitcase or a handbag, as well as by air cargo, otherwise those devices will be confiscated by the relevant security units at the airport.”
Israel launched its second wave of attacks against Lebanon on Wednesday, this time involving the detonation of walkie-talkies. The attacks came one day after thousands of pagers exploded simultaneously across the country, killing at least 12 and wounding nearly 3,000 – including Hezbollah members, civilians, and children.
The death toll from Wednesday’s attacks alone reached 20, with over 450 injuries.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Thursday that the combined toll from the two days has reached 32 dead and several thousand wounded.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on 18 September that the terror attack against Lebanon was the result of a “complex and long in the making” Israeli operation, citing a dozen current and former defense and intelligence officials.
A number of shell companies served as fronts for the production of thousands of pagers which ended up in the hands of the Lebanese resistance and others in Lebanon, according to the report. Among these was BAC Consulting, a Hungarian-based firm that acted as an “intermediary.”
Another company involved is Bulgarian firm Norta Global Ltd, which has been linked to the sale of the pagers. Bulgaria announced on 19 September that it is opening an investigation into the Sofia-based firm.
The Japanese firm behind the walkie-talkie models that exploded on Wednesday said that the production of their ICOM-V82 handheld radio was discontinued in 2014, raising suspicions that counterfeit versions were rigged with explosives and provided to Hezbollah.
The Lebanese resistance has vowed a harsh response to the brutal and unexpected attacks, and the Lebanese government has stood behind Hezbollah’s right to respond.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to address the situation in a speech on Thursday evening.
Lowkey discussed what has and is happening with Israel’s targeted terror attacks in Lebanon via pagers, walkie talkies and bombing runs in the following relatively brief interview with Crispin Flintoff published September 22nd.
Edit September 26, 2024: It is notable that China officially condemned Israel’s pager and Walkie Talkie attacks on Lebanon during the UN Security Council meeting on Friday, September 20th.
At the UN Security Council on Friday, China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong condemned Israel’s pager and walkie-talkie attacks on Lebanon, which reportedly killed at least 32 people — including children — and left thousands more injured, many seriously.
“Outrageously brutal and atrocious…” “Distressing beyond imagination…” “Unconscionable callousness…”
“This act is, without a doubt, a gross violation of a country’s sovereignty and security, and a blatant breach of international law…”
“Children playing in the streets lost their eyes. Mothers shopping in supermarkets had their limbs maimed. Doctors on their way to work were critically injured…”
“Remotely detonating communications devices in indiscriminate attacks causing mass civilian casualties and panic in society is unheard of in history…”
“We are informed by some analysis that the recent remotely-executed attacks are a precursor to major military operations…”
“[We] call on Israel… to forgo its obsession with the use of force and to halt, without delay, its military operations in Gaza, its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, and its adventurism that risks dragging the region into yet another devastating catastrophe…”
“We strongly urge countries with influence over Israel to take tangible steps to stop Israel from going further down the wrong path…”
Thank you for the info especially Lowkey.
Barbaric Israelis.
Thanks for this important update.
If that isn't terrorism I don't know what is.
And I hope that's the end of BAC Consulting and Norta Global Ltd.
Israel is going to experience incredible blowback one of these days, I'm sure.