These are the first pictures. It was showing explosions in people’s pages in Lebanon. Now the government is urging people to get rid of the pages after this bizarre attack. Sources say that the pages of members of Iran-backed Hezbollah have started to explode in the areas. Where the group operates, this shows the moment when the web pages exploded. This is not one of the markets, as you can see from where I was. Your ears are listening to all these new lines, which are coming to the residence of the Iranian ambassador. There have been injured in this attack, according to your barracks and media we are hearing that I live in the east. The health department is telling health workers to come back to work, we don’t know what the target was, because we don’t know who the target was. We were getting more information on this front. But as this is all coming at this stage. I wonder from your perspective and it is a big concern what this means for the region from a security point of view. Ben Jahan certainly represents a chain escalation even from an escalation perspective. Because what we’re talking about is according to Lebanese security sources hundreds of people have been injured. From all accounts, it seems they’re all his Berley members. And presumably, these are Hezbollah members not like rank and file.
These rank and file are presumably local commanders. Those in charge of units that leave units from Hezbollah. The fact that the biggest part of our money the Iranian ambassador in Beirut may be among the injured takes it up another level. Because you’re talking about the wrong one. There are iplomats injured in this, don’t forget there was a new one on April the first of this year. It’s widely believed that there was an Israeli attack on a debate row and diplomatic compound in Damascus. That started a chain of attacks and counter-attacks that raised the temperature. Temperatures or even beyond so this could be a similar type of incident. This has caused casualties not only hundreds maybe more members of Hezbollah but also a senior Iranian diplomat as well of course this only sets the stage for a major escalation between Hezbollah and Israel.
But maybe Iran as well Ben Weidman thank you very much and joining us now. As for me, the director of outreach at the Middle East Institutes in Washington. We are getting this breaking news and hundreds of people are injured, particularly Hezbollah members often blowing up pagers, it’s great to have you with us.
What is your initial reaction to this news. This is no doubt a major operation and an amazing one. I mean we wanted the wrong word, an extraordinary success for Israel. They know they can penetrate Hezbollah’s communications network. Can blow up thousands of pages at once. I just want to say that they you mentioned that Israeli intelligence was behind this. Which you are implying that Israel was behind it. We don’t have confirmation of that. Of course, we were getting information in real-time, why do you believe it’s Israel? I mean in terms of what’s happening. There’s very little doubt in my mind and in the minds of most Middle East observers in the underwear that Israeli intelligence is behind those. Israel has a long track record of sometimes not claiming their operations. Some possible deniability and maybe allowing others. I don’t feel that they are compelled to retaliate. But for all the vahrik reasons every year there is probably more suspicion of Israel having this honest operation.
As we’re getting more information. The other piece of news from the Iranian media is that the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon was also injured, how important is that? Well I mean it’s very important. Because we currently have an American and a guy in Israel. That’s very much in the region to deter and prevent escalation.
Read More : Titan submersible disaster investigation begins