Lebanon’s Hezbollah was bracing for the risk of Israeli military escalation when its old foe struck a blow it hadn’t seen coming, plunging the Iran-backed group into hours of unprecedented disarray, sources familiar with Hezbollah operations say.
The explosion of thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah fighters, medics, and others sparked confusion and panic in the group known for military discipline and order. Some tossed away their devices as blasts echoed through Hezbollah-controlled areas of Beirut and other parts of Lebanon. Others buried them.
MUST READ: Nine Palestinians killed as Israel mounts major West Bank operation
A Hezbollah official said that as the attack began, the group quickly raised its level of military readiness in case it was the opening shot in a bigger offensive by Israel, which has stepped up warnings of escalation in the conflict which has been raging across the border for a year.
Hezbollah leaders – who didn’t carry the devices – turned to the group’s internal phone network to find out what was going on. Families of Hezbollah members struggled to locate relatives as the wounded were ferried to scores of hospitals.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
