Over 3,500 people were injured and 42 were killed in Lebanon when Mossad and Israel executed highly sophisticated pager explosions across the country, targeting operatives of the Hezbollah group. Many civilians including women and children suffered injuries after the pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across the country, costing many victims either eyesight or limbs.
But how many among them were Hezbollah members? Some light has finally been shed on the much-asked question by news agency Reuters. Quoting a highly-placed source in the Middle East, Reuters reported that Hezbollah had to relieve a total of 1,500 fighters following the pager and walkie-talkie devices in successive days. While the death toll was not very high critical injuries to the face, eyes and hands forced the operatives out of their activities for the group.
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This means, more than half of the victims of the attack were civilian bystanders who were not involved with the Iran-backed militant ground.
Among the 1,500 victims, many had lost their eyesight or had their hands blown off, Reuters reported. Although the tally is not a huge deal to the 40,000-50,000-strong group numerically, the death of senior leaders has landed a major blow, apart from the loss of morale among its ranks.
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Pagers exploded after the users took them out to read an Arabic message. While the users, mostly Hezbollah operatives, thought it to be a message from the organisation's higher-ups, it was sent by the Israel intelligence department ahead of triggering the blasts. Later, reports claimed that the pagers Hezbollah imported to avoid cell phone tracking by Israel were made by a shell company owned by Mossad, who planted explosives inside them to neutralise the users.
Conflict in Middle East: Israel's calls up reserves
Amidst Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fighting wars at many fronts, Tel Aviv is calling up two additional reserve brigades to the northern border to carry out operational activities against Lebanon-based Hezbollah, reports said.
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"This will enable the continuation of combat against the Hezbollah terrorist organization, the defence of the State of Israel, and create the conditions to enable the residents of northern Israel to return to their homes," IDF said in a statement.