Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee issues warning on repercussions following deadly pager blasts in Lebanon

Emily Thornberry has expressed concern about potential consequences in the Middle East following a reported Israeli-linked attack in Lebanon and Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 individuals.

An apparent remote attack led to numerous injuries across Lebanon as pagers used by the Hezbollah organization exploded simultaneously on Tuesday.

Following the attack, which Hezbollah and the Lebanese government attributed to Israel, two children lost their lives, and the Iranian ambassador was injured. Israel, however, has not officially commented on the incidents.

Thornberry stated, “We are truly worried about the current situation in Lebanon. The big question is why? Why is this happening now? And what will be the consequences?

She added, “It appears to be another escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, affecting all of us. It’s very concerning, of course, and we must consider what Israel’s next steps will be. Is this part of a larger plan?” during an interview with Sky News on Wednesday morning.

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Thornberry stressed the importance of Israel’s allies engaging in serious discussions with them, questioning their actions and motives. She emphasized the need for clarity on the reasons behind the current events.

Her comments were made following a Foreign Office statement calling for calm and de-escalation in the region.

The Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “We are closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon, collaborating with diplomatic and humanitarian partners. The civilian casualties resulting from the recent explosions are deeply distressing. It is crucial to maintain calm and work towards de-escalation at this critical juncture.”

Pager Explosions

For almost a year, there have been ongoing exchanges of attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, resulting in numerous casualties and displaced individuals.

Following the Tuesday attack, a U.S. official revealed that Israel briefed the United States post-operation, during which thousands of pagers exploded in Lebanon.

According to a statement from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo, the AR-924 pagers used in the attack were produced in Hungary by the company BAC Consulting KFT, registered in May 2022 and headquartered in Budapest.

The statement from Gold Apollo stated, “BAC is solely responsible for the design and manufacturing of the products under the co-operation agreement, allowing them to use our brand trademark for sales in specific regions.”

The AR-924 pagers feature a rechargeable lithium battery with an 85-day battery life and operate on a distinct wireless network not utilized by mobile phones.

Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warned against using mobile phones due to the risk of being targeted by drone strikes from Israel. Following his directive, members switched to pagers provided by the organization to communicate.

On Feb. 13, Nasrallah cautioned his followers that phones posed greater risks than Israeli spies and advised them to destroy, bury, or lock up their devices in an iron box.

Most Hezbollah members have since transitioned to using pagers for communication.

PA Media and Chris Summers contributed to this report.