Israel's hand was forced in executing its alleged covert pager operation on Tuesday after a Hezbollah operative began to suspect something was amiss, the Al Monitor Middle East news portal reported Wednesday. Although the operative was killed, the suspicions persisted, with another member raising concerns about potentially booby-trapped devices, the outlet reported
The report indicates that Israel had initially planned to activate the weaponized pagers only if a full-scale conflagration erupted. However, upon realizing that Hezbollah had potentially uncovered the compromised devices, intense deliberations ensued within Israeli security circles. The debate centered on whether to proceed immediately or bide their time. In the end, they opted for swift action.
On Wednesday, Lebanon's Minister of Health disclosed that the country's hospitals are currently treating around 3,000 individuals of the 4,000 who were injured in the recent events. Some of these patients may require evacuation for treatment abroad. The minister also announced the arrival of a 15-ton shipment of medical supplies from Iraq, with additional aid expected from Egypt, Iran, and Syria.
Foreign sources report that Mojtaba Amini, the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, has lost one eye and sustained damage to the other following what was described as an Israeli cyber attack. He has been transferred to Tehran for medical care. The Iranian Embassy, however, refutes claims that the ambassador's injuries are critical.
