Pagers Explode Across Lebanon in Attack on Hezbollah

[underwaterrhymes]

This is a weird story.



www.npr.org/2024/09/17/nx-s1-5116077/hundreds-are-wounded-after-hezbollah-members-pagers-exploded-in-their-pockets

[sonrisa]

Sept 17, 2024 12:54:28 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

This is a weird story.



www.npr.org/2024/09/17/nx-s1-5116077/hundreds-are-wounded-after-hezbollah-members-pagers-exploded-in-their-pockets

It reminds me of this:

www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/fbi-s-encrypted-phone-platform-infiltrated-hundreds-criminal-syndicates-result-massive

It sounds like some group developed an exploding pager and was able to infiltrate Hezbollah to sell them their product. 

[cville]

Could the world keep its shit together for, like, one day, please?

[underwaterrhymes]

I just wish humans were peaceful.

Why do we want do do so much harm over and over again to each other?

[katfco]

Israel has take responsibility for the attack.
www.cnn.com/world/live-news/lebanon-pagers-explode-hezbollah-israel-09-18-24-intl-hnk/index.html

[wawa]

The total disregard for the indiscriminate nature of this attack, with the inevitable collateral damage, should be a big deal. But its just more of the same from the Israeli government. Fucking hell.

[rubytue]

This story just left me dumbfounded yesterday. I clicked on the headline on the WP expecting a completely difference story (expected lithium ion batteries). And instead, a story about a war crime where someone infiltrated the supply chain to put in a literal kill device in a large set of pagers.

[underwaterrhymes]

Sept 18, 2024 8:22:30 GMT -5 rubytue said:

This story just left me dumbfounded yesterday. I clicked on the headline on the WP expecting a completely difference story (expected lithium ion batteries). And instead, a story about a war crime where someone infiltrated the supply chain to put in a literal kill device in a large set of pagers.

Yeah, when I was first reading about it, it wasn’t clear it was a terrorist attack. But as more has come out, it’s obvious that’s what it was. I mean, Hezbollah is awful. But this was totally indiscriminate and


@@@

Two children died

[sonrisa]

Sept 18, 2024 6:44:07 GMT -5 katfco said:

Israel has take responsibility for the attack.
www.cnn.com/world/live-news/lebanon-pagers-explode-hezbollah-israel-09-18-24-intl-hnk/index.html

l’m not sure whether you intend to say ‘Israel has taken responsibility’ for the attacks (which it has not, to my knowledge) or ‘Israel has to take responsibility’ (since it seems other parties know them to be responsible).

The articles I’ve read cite unnamed US officials and their knowledge of the manner and circumstances of the attack. I think we need to know more. It sounds a lot like our country may have had advanced or inside knowledge . We need to know why US officials know so much and what role our country may have in this.

I and striking this out because I may have been loading a version of the article when information was still changing.

ETA: as of Sept. 18th, according to the NYT:

"Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any role in the explosions, but 12 current and former defense and intelligence officials who were briefed on the attack say the Israelis were behind it, describing the operation as complex and long in the making."


(link)

[katfco]

Sept 18, 2024 9:19:16 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Sept 18, 2024 6:44:07 GMT -5 katfco said:

Israel has take responsibility for the attack.
www.cnn.com/world/live-news/lebanon-pagers-explode-hezbollah-israel-09-18-24-intl-hnk/index.html

l’m not sure whether you intend to say ‘Israel has taken responsibility’ for the attacks (which it has not, to my knowledge) or ‘Israel has to take responsibility’ (since it seems other parties know them to be responsible).

The articles I’ve read cite unnamed US officials and their knowledge of the manner and circumstances of the attack. I think we need to know more. It sounds a lot like our country may have had advanced or inside knowledge . We need to know why US officials know so much and what role our country may have in this.

I meant to say has taken. I may have misheard on NPR this morning, but I thought that’s what they had said

[sonrisa]

Sept 18, 2024 9:46:04 GMT -5 katfco said:

Sept 18, 2024 9:19:16 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

l’m not sure whether you intend to say ‘Israel has taken responsibility’ for the attacks (which it has not, to my knowledge) or ‘Israel has to take responsibility’ (since it seems other parties know them to be responsible).

The articles I’ve read cite unnamed US officials and their knowledge of the manner and circumstances of the attack. I think we need to know more. It sounds a lot like our country may have had advanced or inside knowledge . We need to know why US officials know so much and what role our country may have in this.

I meant to say has taken. I may have misheard on NPR this morning, but I thought that’s what they had said

I think I am the one who is mistaken and my phone was loading an old, cached version of the story before they took responsibility. I looked again and now there is nothing in the linked article about US officials either. Or I might be conflating the walkie talkie explosions. 

[bkseller13]

And today, apparently walkie talkies are exploding. www.cnn.com/world/live-news/lebanon-pagers-explode-hezbollah-israel-09-18-24-intl-hnk/index.html

[neverfstop]

1 - it's a crazy war tactic & that it had been planned this long is wild
2- it's horrible and should have never been done, it's inexcusable & immoral
3 - I feel like (ever too slowly) the tide is shifting with public/global sentiment against Israel. More and more people are seeing the brutality and horrific things that Israel is doing

This is a devastating piece today on the NYT podcast. www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/podcasts/the-daily/israel-extremism-west-bank.html

[stuffandthings]

Isn’t this…state-sponsored terrorism?

[mrsslocombe]

Sept 18, 2024 13:06:51 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

1 - it's a crazy war tactic & that it had been planned this long is wild
2- it's horrible and should have never been done, it's inexcusable & immoral
3 - I feel like (ever too slowly) the tide is shifting with public/global sentiment against Israel. More and more people are seeing the brutality and horrific things that Israel is doing

This is a devastating piece today on the NYT podcast. www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/podcasts/the-daily/israel-extremism-west-bank.html

While I think the rest of the world has been more open to criticizing Netanyahu and the actions of the IDF, there has been virtually zero criticism from US politicians, outside of Rashia Talib, AOC, Ilhan Omar, etc. I also don't think the movement within the US has grown very much over the past few months. 

What worries me the most is that there will be zero real accountability for the Israeli government. They will continue to escalate their attacks and the US government will continue giving them money and weapons. Especially until the election. 

[fryjack2]

Sept 18, 2024 13:06:51 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

1 - it's a crazy war tactic & that it had been planned this long is wild
2- it's horrible and should have never been done, it's inexcusable & immoral
3 - I feel like (ever too slowly) the tide is shifting with public/global sentiment against Israel. More and more people are seeing the brutality and horrific things that Israel is doing

This is a devastating piece today on the NYT podcast. www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/podcasts/the-daily/israel-extremism-west-bank.html

Netanyahu is not stupid. He knows that he can do whatever he wants without consequences and continued support from the US. He’s using that to do what he’s doing in the West Bank. What’s going on is inexcusable and yet here we are. No one stopping him. Per usual.

And anyone who dares try is deemed a terrorist. At what point is millions of Arab people’s safety just as important as millions of Israelis? it’s not all the fault of Hamas or hezbollah or every other Arab leadership blame is placed on.

[stuffandthings]

What is driving me nuts is this: if, say, Saudi Arabia blew up the devices of hundreds of members of a Michigan paramilitary militia group, killing 32 people and injuring thousands, some of them CHILDREN, the US would be mounting a full-scale ground invasion as we speak. WHY is everyone fine with Israel doing this?

[sonrisa]

Sept 18, 2024 17:53:46 GMT -5 stuffandthings said:

WHY is everyone fine with Israel doing this?

I don't think many people are fine with this.

[stuffandthings]

Sept 19, 2024 0:14:25 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Sept 18, 2024 17:53:46 GMT -5 stuffandthings said:

WHY is everyone fine with Israel doing this?

I don't think many people are fine with this.

I mean, the federal government is fine with it, since they're still giving Israel weapons and stuff. Has anyone in the US state department condemned it? I haven't seen much news coverage of pushback against this, but maybe I haven't been paying enough attention.

[sonrisa]

Sept 19, 2024 8:16:03 GMT -5 stuffandthings said:

Sept 19, 2024 0:14:25 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

I don't think many people are fine with this.

I mean, the federal government is fine with it, since they're still giving Israel weapons and stuff. Has anyone in the US state department condemned it? I haven't seen much news coverage of pushback against this, but maybe I haven't been paying enough attention.

im going to be the tin foil hat one here. the similarities between this operation and the prior US sting worry me. I very much hope we didn’t play a role here in the development stage.

ETA: I fear we are ‘gathering information’ rather than speaking out because we don’t have completely clean hands in this.

[pixy0stix]

Sept 19, 2024 8:16:03 GMT -5 stuffandthings said:

Sept 19, 2024 0:14:25 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

I don't think many people are fine with this.

I mean, the federal government is fine with it, since they're still giving Israel weapons and stuff. Has anyone in the US state department condemned it? I haven't seen much news coverage of pushback against this, but maybe I haven't been paying enough attention.

I haven't read the news this morning, but so far the US has issued a statement urging both sides to not escalate the situation*. Other than that they've been "gathering information".

*There's been no evidence that any side other than Israel is moving to escalate.

[pixy0stix]

NYTimes had more of the who and how - gift link

How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/world/middleeast/israel-exploding-pagers-hezbollah.html?unlocked_article_code=1.L04.ZLNv.OAC5b5ZZ-TFC

[laladypoet]

Sept 18, 2024 13:20:48 GMT -5 stuffandthings said:

Isn’t this…state-sponsored terrorism?

100%. but nothing will happen. it's bullshit.

[laladypoet]

Sept 19, 2024 0:14:25 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Sept 18, 2024 17:53:46 GMT -5 stuffandthings said:

WHY is everyone fine with Israel doing this?

I don't think many people are fine with this.

a lack of consequences is complicity. our government is fine with this.

[fryjack2]

Feels like Israel could attack anywhere in the world at this point and the US would be “reviewing information” and not condemn or act.

Senator John Kennedy told an Arab American speaking at a hate crimes hearing that she should put her head in a bag. After trying to get her to say she supports Hamas and hezbollah. Which she denied and said was an offensive inappropriate question to be posing to her in the first place. Yet he continued to ask no less than 4 times and she said no each time.

I won’t hold my breath waiting for him to be sanctioned the same way Rashida Tlaib was because we all know nothing will happen to him.

[pixy0stix]

Israel this whole time has been crossing boundaries that have been in effect to limit civilian casualties. (See the Gaza thread where I laid out several of those in multiple posts, including condemnations from multiple world agencies).

This attack is crossing yet another that the world has been worried about but didn't really think anyone would try because of the vast implications.

WaPo has published a good article about it today - gift link - wapo.st/3zrHPOy

[fryjack2]

Sept 19, 2024 12:42:42 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Israel this whole time has been crossing boundaries that have been in effect to limit civilian casualties. (See the Gaza thread where I laid out several of those in multiple posts, including condemnations from multiple world agencies).

This attack is crossing yet another that the world has been worried about but didn't really think anyone would try because of the vast implications.

WaPo has published a good article about it today - gift link - wapo.st/3zrHPOy

Thank you for this. I was about to list alllllll the things the Israeli government has done that are not ok and would be condemned by the world with sanctions and possibly rightful retaliation.

It’s been beyond ridiculous for decades and even more so now.

Did anyone see that the UN adopted a resolution that says Israel has to end its occupation in the next 12 months? Amazing, but it’s non binding at this point.

And I think Israel already has a plan to end their occupation by killing every Palestinian living in the occupied territories.

[wawa]

Sept 19, 2024 10:12:46 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Feels like Israel could attack anywhere in the world at this point and the US would be “reviewing information” and not condemn or act.

Senator John Kennedy told an Arab American speaking at a hate crimes hearing that she should put her head in a bag. After trying to get her to say she supports Hamas and hezbollah. Which she denied and said was an offensive inappropriate question to be posing to her in the first place. Yet he continued to ask no less than 4 times and she said no each time.

I won’t hold my breath waiting for him to be sanctioned the same way Rashida Tlaib was because we all know nothing will happen to him.

I saw video of this.  It was awful.  She deserves an award for how she was able pivot into using his hateful bullshit as a "teachable moment" about exactly why she was there, and not just start throwing things at him. It's terrible that that level of poise is what's required for an Arab American to interact with people like him without "proving them right" or some bullshit.

He was so damn proud of himself too.  Talking over her saying, 'I notice you can't bring yourself to say no!" WHILE SHE WAS SAYING NO. REPEATEDLY. Like...she wasn't even a real person to him so it didn't matter what she said. Just a chance to score a made up bigoted point showing off for the people who believe the same fucked up racist shit.

[cville]

Sept 19, 2024 13:05:11 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Sept 19, 2024 12:42:42 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Israel this whole time has been crossing boundaries that have been in effect to limit civilian casualties. (See the Gaza thread where I laid out several of those in multiple posts, including condemnations from multiple world agencies).

This attack is crossing yet another that the world has been worried about but didn't really think anyone would try because of the vast implications.

WaPo has published a good article about it today - gift link - wapo.st/3zrHPOy

Thank you for this. I was about to list alllllll the things the Israeli government has done that are not ok and would be condemned by the world with sanctions and possibly rightful retaliation.

It’s been beyond ridiculous for decades and even more so now.

Did anyone see that the UN adopted a resolution that says Israel has to end its occupation in the next 12 months? Amazing, but it’s non binding at this point.

And I think Israel already has a plan to end their occupation by killing every Palestinian living in the occupied territories.

I'm so angry with and so disappointed in the US government for its continuing support of Israel's government. We are on the wrong side of history.

[AJL]

1. This is totally state sponsored terrorism. Israel is fucking out of control. Netanyahu is out of control.

2. The US has always had dirty hands. Nothing the U.S. does is anything other than self-serving. We do not get involved in international issues unless we are sure we are ultimately going to benefit from it. We’re not an altruistic nation. We never have been. This isn’t cynicism. This is the reality of being a world super power.

3. The US is likely the only country that could reel Netanyahu in but they are not going to at this time because see point 2.

4. I don’t know how to stop what’s happening and as always, I have a lot of messy feelings about this. But I want the killing to stop. It needs to stop now.