Egypt reaffirms support for Lebanon’s security, sovereignty after deadly pager blasts

CAIRO – 18 September 2024: Egypt has restated its unwavering keenness on Lebanon's security and stability and the non-violation of its sovereignty by any external party following the tragic detonation of pager devices across Lebanon on Tuesday.

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty reached out to Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib, conveying Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s reaffirmation of this support.

Sisi has directed Abdelatty to promptly engage with Lebanese officials, affirm full support to Lebanon, and offer the provision of all possible forms of assistance in the wake of this tragic incident, read a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

In his discussions, Abdelatty reiterated a caution against the escalating regional tensions and warned against pushing the region into an all-out war.

He highlighted the alarming and swift developments unfolding in southern Lebanon as ominous signs that the region stands on the brink of a perilous turning point due to irresponsible and reckless unilateral actions, read the statement.

The foreign minister underscored the critical importance of averting further escalation through an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a cessation of Israeli assaults in the West Bank, and a swift deal ensuring the release of captives and prisoners, alongside unimpeded access to humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza.

فيديوهات مرعبة للحظة انفجار اجهزة اتصال

انفجار اجهزة الاتصال بعناصر حزب لبنان الإيراني في لبنان.

مئات الاصابات في الشوارع والمراكز بالضاحية الجنوبية والبقاع و بعلبك#لبنان_اليوم #لبنان pic.twitter.com/mOvLGogKk7

— أنس المعراوي anasmaarawi (@anasanas84) September 17, 2024

How it happened?

The Lebanese health ministry reported at least nine fatalities, including a young girl, and 2,800 injuries following an Israeli operation triggering the detonation of hundreds of pagers across Lebanon on Tuesday afternoon.

CNN revealed that the assault was a coordinated effort between Israel’s intelligence service, the Mossad, and the Israeli military.

Israel hid explosives in the Gold Apollo pagers before they were imported to Lebanon, the New York Times reported, citing American and other officials briefed on the operation. The Israeli intelligence added a switch to the device for remote detonation.

According to Reuters, sources have confirmed that casualties include the son of a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament, Ali Ammar. Additionally, reports suggest that Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani sustained injuries in the attack.

Lebanon swiftly denounced the incident as a "criminal Israeli aggression," with the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications declaring a day of mourning on Wednesday for the victims of the attack.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against the Israeli operation, asserting that Tel Aviv will face "its fair punishment."

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, condemned the attack as marking “an extremely concerning escalation in what is an already unacceptably volatile context.”

Cross-border fighting

This unprecedented Israeli offensive unfolds against a backdrop of heightened hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah since the commencement of the Israeli war on Gaza on October 7, a war that has endured for almost a year, claiming over 41,000 Palestinian lives.

In late August, Hezbollah declared the completion of the "first phase" of retaliatory strikes against Israel after the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, alongside several civilians, in Beirut in late July.

The first retaliatory wave by Hezbollah included drone deployments and the launch of 320 Katyusha rockets targeting 11 Israeli military installations.

Concurrently, the Israeli military disclosed operations within Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah's preparations to launch rockets towards Israel.

Israel has accused Shukr of orchestrating an attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that led to the deaths of a dozen individuals in July, although Hezbollah has denied involvement.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed severe repercussions for Israel at an opportune moment for the killing of Shukr, hinting at potential broader targets beyond military installations.

Both Hezbollah and Hamas have pledged retaliation for the assassination of Hamas' political bureau head, Ismail Haniyeh, by Israeli forces in July, heightening concerns of a wider regional conflict.