Exploding pager attacks in Lebanon, and fears of a wider war
Sep 19, 2024
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Susannah George, a correspondent for The Post, shares her on-the-ground insights from Lebanon following devastating pager explosions attributed to Hezbollah. She discusses the chaos in overwhelmed hospitals, the emotional aftermath for communities, and the potential for these attacks to escalate tensions between Israel and Lebanon. George also elaborates on Hezbollah's complex role as both a militia and political entity and the broader fears of impending conflict, highlighting the significant impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
The recent pager explosions in Lebanon have resulted in significant casualties and overwhelming strain on healthcare facilities, indicating a dire humanitarian crisis.
There are rising fears of an escalation into full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel, fueled by the recent attacks and shifting military rhetoric.
Deep dives
Chaos and Confusion in Lebanon
A series of deadly explosions in Lebanon led to significant chaos and confusion, as electronic devices, particularly pagers and walkie-talkies, detonated in various neighborhoods. Eyewitness accounts described the disturbing sounds of multiple explosions occurring almost simultaneously from different locations, creating an atmosphere of fear and urgency. The immediate reaction included frantic calls from people urging others to turn off their electronic devices, as Hezbollah members warned about the potential risks of further explosions. The attacks resulted in at least 37 deaths and thousands injured, with reports suggesting that Israel may be behind these violent incidents, intensifying concerns about future conflict.
Impact on Medical Services
The explosions overwhelmed hospitals across Lebanon, with emergency rooms inundated by casualties suffering from severe injuries, especially to their faces and hands. Doctors reported that many injuries resulted from victims instinctively picking up beeping pagers, which detonated as people attempted to discern the source of the noise. The healthcare facilities faced challenges in managing the influx of patients, leading to a shortage of available operating rooms and specialized medical staff. This event marked one of the worst mass casualty incidents in recent history, eliciting fears of an impending all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Escalating Tensions and Potential War
The recent attacks have raised fears of greater conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as many believe they could lead to an escalation into full-scale war. Hezbollah, which views itself as a protector of Lebanese people against Israeli aggression, has solidified its ties with Palestinian groups like Hamas, especially in light of ongoing tensions. Amidst calls for retaliation and heightened military readiness, observers noted a shift in the rhetoric of Hezbollah's leaders, who now express a willingness to consider these attacks as crossing major boundaries. The situation remains precarious, with concerns about increasing civilian casualties on both sides as tensions continue to rise.
Thousands of people were injured across Lebanon this week in back-to-backexplosions of electronic devices – pagers, mostly – used by the militant group Hezbollah.
Host Martine Powers speaks with Post correspondent Susannah George about what it’s like in Lebanon in the aftermath of these explosions and why they may portend an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.
Also, an update on the controversy over the 2024 Olympic medal stripped from Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled her coach did not initiate the decisive inquiry before the one-minute deadline.
Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Emma Talkoff and Bishop Sand. It was mixed by Ted Muldoon and edited by Monica Campbell. Thanks to Jesse Mesner-Hage, Jenn Amur, Suzan Haidamous, Mohamad El Chamaa and Lior Soroka.