Day 2 of attacks likely launched before ‘exposure’ of rigged devices
Amir Oren, a military analyst with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, says if Israel is responsible for the second day of device attacks, the blasts have likely been carried out before Hezbollah realized other systems had also been compromised.
The mass explosions on Tuesday reportedly targeted pagers used by the Lebanese group while blasts today occurred in phones, laptops and walkie-talkies.
“If Israel had done it yesterday, it really didn’t have any choice but to go on today because, otherwise, Hezbollah would have methodically looked into it and exposed it,” Oren told Al Jazeera.
He highlighted news reports from outside Israel saying there was a “use it or lose it” situation involving the rigged devices because the attack plan was about to be revealed. Oren suggested the attacks do not mean a major military campaign is about to be launched.
“Had Israel really wanted to go to war immediately after the pager attacks, we could have sent ground troops into Lebanon. Israel has not done that and is still in a defensive mode along the border.”
So just continuing terrorism at state level.
Israel’s Gallant: ‘We are at the start of a new phase in the war’
Israel’s defence minister declared the start of a “new phase” of the war on Gaza as Israel turns its focus towards the northern front against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.
Yoav Gallant made no mention of the mysterious explosions of electronic devices in Lebanon. But he praised the work of Israel’s army and security agencies, saying “the results are very impressive”.
After months of war in Gaza, “the centre of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces”, said Gallant. “We are at the start of a new phase in the war – it requires courage, determination and perseverance.”
PM Netanyahu promises to return all Israeli citizens to homes in the north
Israel will ensure tens of thousands of residents evacuated from northern border areas during cross-border fire with Hezbollah will be able to go back home, Netanyahu says.
“I have said it before: We will return the citizens of the north to their homes in security, and that’s exactly what we are going to do,” he said in a brief video statement, giving no details.
The comments come after Israel’s defence minister said “a new phase” of the war on Gaza is now under way.
‘Smugness and fear’ among the Israeli public after Lebanon blasts
Israeli political commentator Ori Goldberg says the country has “absolutely nothing” to gain from the mass attacks throughout Lebanon.
He says the mood in Israel is one of “smugness and fear” after the scale and depth of the bombings, and whether it means a full-scale war with Hezbollah is imminent.
“It’s clear to us that our leaders don’t have a plan. There’s a lot of talk of inevitability, how we have no choice, and how we must do this. But this reflects weakness not strength. We are full of a sense of foreboding, guiding us to do this thing regardless of the consequences or the implications,” Goldberg told Al Jazeera.
He said the Israeli public generally supports a major conflict against Hezbollah. “But the war in Gaza has taught we can have a war, but we have no idea where it will take us.”
