Pentagon denies role in suspected Israeli pager attacks in Lebanon
Phone pagers exploded across Lebanon and in Syria, injuring thousands in a suspected Israeli attack targeting Hezbollah just a day after top Washington officials urged Israeli leaders not to escalate the conflict.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s top official, Lloyd Austin, called his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, for the second time in roughly 36 hours on Tuesday in the aftermath of a suspected attack believed to have targeted Hezbollah operatives by detonating mobile pager devices in Lebanon.
Phone pagers also reportedly exploded in parts of Syria during the roughly hour-long incident, killing at least nine people and injuring an estimated 2,800 others. Hezbollah has accused Israel of being behind the alleged attack and has vowed to respond.
Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also slightly injured. The foreign ministry in Tehran and Lebanon's government condemned the attack, which they attributed to Israel.
Israeli officials have not commented publicly on the incident, which came just hours after the Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency claimed it had foiled a plot by Hezbollah to target an unnamed former Israeli defense official with remotely detonated explosives. US officials have not publicly said which party, if any, they believe may have been behind the incident.
