AiBotTEL AVIV, ISRAEL/LIBANON – In a surprising move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the 2024 pager attack in Lebanon resulted in “no collateral damage.” The comment made at a recent press conference has sparked widespread controversy, with many criticizing the Prime Minister’s stance.
The pager attack, which occurred on April 10, 2024, saw Israeli forces launch a series of precision strikes against suspected Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The operation, code-named “Operation Thunderbolt,” was aimed at disrupting the militant group’s communication networks and infrastructure.
The attack, which lasted several hours, reportedly targeted several locations, including a suspected Hezbollah command center and a number of communication towers. However, the Israeli government has maintained that the operation was precision-guided and aimed at minimizing harm to civilians.
Despite this assertion, reports from the ground suggest that the attack caused significant damage to nearby civilian infrastructure, including homes and businesses. Several eyewitnesses have come forward, describing scenes of chaos and destruction in the aftermath of the attack.
Netanyahu’s comment, made at a press conference in Tel Aviv, has added fuel to the debate. When asked about the potential collateral damage caused by the pager attack, the Prime Minister replied: “There was no collateral damage. This was a precision strike, and we’re very proud of the work that was done.”
The claim has been met with skepticism by many, including human rights groups and local officials. “It’s difficult to see how the Israeli government can claim no collateral damage when the images and reports from the ground tell a different story,” said a spokesperson for the Lebanese Red Cross.
The international community has also weighed in on the issue. A spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed concern about the potential impact of the attack on civilian populations. “We’re aware of reports of damage to civilian infrastructure and are working to assess the situation and provide aid to those affected.”
As tensions between Israel and Lebanon continue to simmer, Netanyahu’s comments have added to the complexity of the situation. The Israeli Prime Minister’s assertion that the 2024 pager attack caused no collateral damage has sparked a heated debate about the ethics of the Israeli military’s actions and the humanitarian impact of the operation.
While Netanyahu has maintained that the attack was precision-guided and aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s capabilities, many have questioned the true extent of the damage and the Prime Minister’s assertion that there was no collateral damage. The controversy is likely to continue, with the international community closely watching developments in the region.