Archiv: 17+18-09-2024 thousands of most likely by Israeli spies manipulated communication devices explode in Lebanon and Syria / same day: UNGA votes for end of Israeli occupation within a year


19.09.2024 - 22:32 [ Human Rights Watch ]

Lebanon: Exploding Pagers Harmed Hezbollah, Civilians

(September 18, 2024)

“Customary international humanitarian law prohibits the use of booby traps – objects that civilians are likely to be attracted to or are associated with normal civilian daily use – precisely to avoid putting civilians at grave risk and produce the devastating scenes that continue to unfold across Lebanon today. The use of an explosive device whose exact location could not be reliably known would be unlawfully indiscriminate, using a means of attack that could not be directed at a specific military target and as a result would strike military targets and civilians without distinction. A prompt and impartial investigation into the attacks should be urgently conducted.”

19.09.2024 - 22:17 [ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) / Büro des Hohen Kommissars für Menschenrechte ]

Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on explosions across Lebanon and in Syria

Geneva, 18 September 2024

Widespread simultaneous explosions across Lebanon and in Syria yesterday, where detonating pagers killed at least 12 people – including two children – and left thousands of people injured, are shocking, and their impact on civilians unacceptable. The fear and terror unleashed is profound.

At this extremely volatile time, I appeal to all States with influence in the region and beyond to take immediate measures to avert further widening of the current conflicts – enough of the daily horrors, enough of the suffering. It is high time leaders stepped up in defence of the rights of all people to live in peace and security. The protection of civilians must be the paramount priority. De-escalation is today more crucial than ever.

Simultaneous targeting of thousands of individuals, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge as to who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law and, to the extent applicable, international humanitarian law.

There must be an independent, thorough and transparent investigation as to the circumstances of these mass explosions, and those who ordered and carried out such an attack must be held to account.

19.09.2024 - 21:43 [ Sydney Morning Herald ]

Mass pager attacks ‘a terrifying violation of international law’

The experts, led by University of Sydney law professor Ben Saul, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, labelled the exploding pagers “a terrifying violation of international law”.

“These attacks violate the human right to life, absent any indication that the victims posed an imminent lethal threat to anyone else at the time,” the experts said in a joint statement issued from Geneva late on Thursday night.

“Such attacks require prompt, independent investigation to establish the truth and enable accountability for the crime of murder.”

19.09.2024 - 21:15 [ ardmediathek.de ]

tagesschau 20:00 Uhr, 19.09.2024

Hisbollah-Chef Nasrallah droht nach Explosionsserien im Libanon mit Vergeltung, Explosionsserien im Libanon laut Experten wohl aus israelischen Geheimdienst Mossad zurückzuführen, …

19.09.2024 - 18:51 [ CNN ]

See the moment Israeli jets fly over Beirut while CNN reporter is on air

CNN Senior International Correspondent Ben Wedeman reacts to Israeli jets flying over Beirut, Lebanon, as Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah delivered an address in response to a wave of explosions across the country.

19.09.2024 - 18:40 [ APNews.com ]

What to know about the two waves of deadly explosions that hit Lebanon and Syria

Just one day after pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded, more electronic devices detonated in Lebanon Wednesday in what appeared to be a second wave of sophisticated, deadly attacks that targeted an extraordinary number of people.

Both attacks, which are widely believed to be carried out by Israel, have hiked fears that the two sides’ simmering conflict could escalate into all-out war.

18.09.2024 - 17:40 [ Reuters ]

Hezbollah hand-held radios detonate across Lebanon, sources say

Hand-held radios used by Hezbollah detonated on Wednesday across Lebanon‘s south and in Beirut‘s southern suburbs, a security source and a witness said, further stoking tensions with Israel a day after similar explosions launched via the group‘s pagers.

18.09.2024 - 13:10 [ New York Times ]

Israel’s Pager Attack Has No Clear Strategic Goal, Analysts Say

Israel’s attack on pagers belonging to Hezbollah on Tuesday was a tactical success that had no clear strategic impact, analysts say.

While it embarrassed Hezbollah and appeared to incapacitate many of its members, the attack has not so far altered the military balance along the Israel-Lebanon border, where more than 100,000 civilians on either side have been displaced by a low-intensity battle.