This afternoon, thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah terrorists simultaneously exploded, killing nine and injuring over 4,000 terrorists across Lebanon and parts of Syria.
The highly sophisticated and targeted operation sent shock waves across the Middle East and is being called Hezbollah’s "biggest security breach" yet.
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was among those injured carrying a Hezbollah pager, further exposing the ties between the regime and its terrorist proxy. Senior Hezbollah commanders and advisors were also injured.
CCTV recordings show the precision explosions.
Warning: Graphic videos
A Reutersreport from July detailed how Hezbollah had adopted "low-tech strategies [like pagers] to try to evade [Israel’s] sophisticated surveillance technology."
"Hezbollah has learned from its losses and adapted its tactics in response," the report notes. "Cell phones, which can be used to track a user's location, have been banned from the battlefield in favor of more old-fashioned communication means, including pagers."
While Israel has not claimed responsibility, Hezbollah is blaming Israel for the explosions and has promised to respond.
Kataeb Hezbollah, one of the most powerful Iranian-backed terror groups in Iraq, already said in a statement that it will "put all our capabilities in the hands of the brothers in Lebanon," including "fighters" and "equipment."
Several hours after the explosions in Lebanon, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reportedly spoke on the phone with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, to discuss the situation.
Backed by Iran, Hezbollah is the most powerful terrorist army in the world. Hezbollah has fired more than 8,500 rockets at Israel in the last year — killing dozens of Israelis, including 12 children.
America must ensure Israel has the offensive and defensive weapons needed to deter, defend against, and confront Hezbollah and Iran's other terror proxies.
Tell Congress: Oppose Efforts to Block Arms to Israel
Congress must stand with Israel and ensure our ally has the offensive and defensive weapons it needs to deter, defend against, and confront Iran and its terror proxies.
Urge your members of Congress to oppose any effort to block weapons shipments to Israel.
Israel Security Cabinet expands war objectives: Return of displaced Israelis to their homes in the north now an official war goal
Israel’s Security Cabinet updated the objectives of the war to include "returning the residents of the north securely to their homes," the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement late last night.
"Israel will continue to act to achieve this goal," the statement added, following a late-night meeting of the Security Cabinet in Tel Aviv.
Until now, the formal goals of the war were threefold: the elimination of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, the return of all the hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
More than 80,000 Israelis have been forced from their homes after more than 11 months of Hezbollah attacks. That is the equivalent of 3.2 million Americans internally displaced. America must stand with Israel against Hezbollah and Iran's other terror proxies.
MUST WATCH
Liat and her family are from Metula, where over 200 houses have been directly hit by a Hezbollah rocket.
Today, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield delivered an impassioned speech rejecting the Palestinians’ effort to pass an anti-Israel resolution at an emergency session of the U.N. General Assembly.
In her speech, the ambassador argues that the "adoption of a one-sided resolution... does not advance what we all want to see, and that is progress toward two-states, living in peace, side-by-side."
"This proposed resolution advances the flawed – and indeed, false – idea that adopting a text here in New York can somehow resolve what is easily one of the most complex and persistent diplomatic challenges of our time," she added.
IDF eliminates PIJ leader in Gaza humanitarian zone
Israel eliminated a top Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist, Ahmad Ayesh Salama al-Khashash, in the humanitarian zone of Khan Yunis, the IDF announced this morning.
Khashash directed the PIJ’s rocket unit in southern Gaza, including firing rockets at Israelis from within the humanitarian zone.
"Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence," the IDF added.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
AIPAC 251 H St. NW • Washington D.C. 20001 • TEL 202-639-5200
