The remotely detonated explosions were “reckless” and indiscriminate, the former NSA contractor argued.
The wave of synchronized pager explosions in Lebanon was “reckless” because the method did not take into account possible civilian casualties, Edward Snowden said.
At least ten people were killed, including a child, and some 2,800 were injured across Lebanon when handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded simultaneously on Tuesday. The pro-Palestinian militant group has blamed Israel for the attack. “sinful aggression” and vowed to retaliate.
Israel has not acknowledged any involvement in the blasts. However, the Jewish state has carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah members in the past and has threatened further attacks. “military action” if the group does not stop its cross-border attacks against Israelis.
Writing in X on Tuesday, Snowden suggested that the pagers had likely detonated because “implanted explosives” Instead of being hacked because there was “Too many constant and very serious injuries.”
“What Israel just did is, by *any* method, reckless,” the former NSA contractor argued. “They blew up countless people driving (i.e. out-of-control cars), shopping (his children were in the stroller behind him in the checkout line), etc. It is indistinguishable from terrorism.”
Sky News Arabia quoted its sources as saying that the Israeli spy agency Mossad planted “an amount” of the highly explosive material PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) in the batteries of pagers, and detonated them remotely by raising the temperature of the batteries. The manipulated devices were part of a shipment that arrived in Lebanon earlier this year.
Lebanese authorities said civilians were among the wounded. France 24 quoted a Hezbollah source as saying that a 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member had been killed. The group acknowledged Wednesday that eight of its members had been killed, according to Sky News Arabia.
Former IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus rejected allegations that the explosions amounted to “indistinct” attacks.
“Indiscriminate? It’s about as surgical as it gets, targeting only Hezbollah operatives who were important enough to be given special communications devices.” wrote in X. He added that Hezbollah has been “attacking Israel for more than 11 months, forcing 70,000 Israelis to flee their homes.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Monday that “military action” It would be necessary to ensure the security of Israelis living in areas close to the Lebanese border. However, US officials have publicly discouraged Israel from taking steps that could trigger a full-blown war in Lebanon.
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