CAIRO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel's alleged attacks on communication devices used by Hezbollah in Lebanon have triggered widespread condemnation from regional and international powers, raising fears of an escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Lebanese officials reported that explosions targeting pagers and handheld radios killed at least 26 people, including two children, and injured more than 3,200 others across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday. The attacks, which Israel has not claimed responsibility for, came amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib denounced the incidents as "a blatant assault on Lebanon's sovereignty and security and a clear violation of all international conventions and norms."
He called on the United Nations to exert maximum pressure on Israel to stop its escalation and implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.
The attacks coincided with an announcement by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of a "new phase" in the conflict with Hezbollah.
Speaking at a military airbase in northern Israel on Wednesday, Gallant stated that Israel is "shifting northward by reallocating resources, energy, and forces." This move followed a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet to expand the war's objectives, aiming to facilitate the return of Israelis displaced by cross-border fighting with Hezbollah.
The incidents have drawn sharp criticism from across the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly condemned the attack on Wednesday, describing it as a "disgrace to Western states and especially the Americans."
He called for greater unity among Muslim states to counter what he termed "crimes and cruelty by Israel and its supporters against the oppressed Palestinians and Muslim world."
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that Israel's actions were "pushing the entire region toward the abyss." Speaking at a meeting of the Arab-Islamic ministerial committee in Amman, Safadi emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. He urged the international community to take practical steps to hold Israel accountable for what he described as violations of international and humanitarian law.
The Arab League condemned what it called "treacherous Israeli attacks on communication devices in Lebanon." Syria's Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, describing the incidents as a "bloody aggression" and an "act of terrorism" against Lebanese civilians.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned of the dangers of sliding into a comprehensive regional war during phone calls with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Bou Habib. Abdelatty emphasized that the rapid developments in southern Lebanon indicate the region is on the verge of a dangerous turning point.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the explosions "a monstrous act of terrorism" and "an obvious attempt to ignite a major conflict." She urged all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could further destabilize the region.
The Houthi group in Yemen, an ally of Hezbollah, also joined the chorus of condemnation, with spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam calling the attacks a "heinous crime and a violation of Lebanese sovereignty."
As tensions continue to rise, the Lebanese government has begun preparing a complaint to the UN Security Council. The Council of Ministers stressed that they have contacted concerned countries and the United Nations to hold responsible parties accountable for what they termed an "ongoing crime." ■
