Reaction to Israel’s twin cyberattacks on the pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives—injuring thousands and killing dozens – varied widely based on political ties. The United States and European Union warned that hostilities across the Middle East, already volatile because of the Gaza war, could escalate further after the attacks on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024. In contrast, Iran, which has fostered, trained, armed and funded Hezbollah since 1982, called the attacks criminal.
Volker Türk, the U.N. official for human rights, condemned the cyberattack as indiscriminate. “Simultaneous targeting of thousands of individuals, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge of who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location, and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law,” Turk said in a statement on September 18.
Iran held Israel and, by extension, Western allies responsible. The explosions “once again showed that Western nations and Americans fully support crime, killings, and blind assassinations by the Zionist regime,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a cabinet meeting on September 18, according to the presidential website. Hamas, another ally of Hezbollah, expressed solidarity with the group. The following are reactions from around the world.
United States
Secretary of State Antony Blinken
“The United States did not know about, nor was it involved in these incidents. We are still gathering the information and gathering the facts.”
“Broadly speaking we have been very clear and we remain very clear about the importance of all parties avoiding any steps that could further escalate the conflict that we are trying to resolve in Gaza, to [not] see it spread to other fronts. It is clearly not in the interest of anyone involved to see that happen and that is why, again, it is imperative that all parties refrain from any actions that could escalate the conflict.” Sept. 18, 2024
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller
“We are gathering information on this incident. I can tell you that the US was not involved in it, the US was not aware of this incident in advance. And at this point, we are gathering information.” Sept. 18, 2024
European Union
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell
“Even if the attacks seem to have been targeted, they had heavy, indiscriminate collateral damages among civilians, including children among the victims.”
“I consider this situation extremely worrying. I can only condemn these attacks that endanger the security and stability of Lebanon, and increase the risk of escalation in the region.” Sept. 18, 2024
United Nations
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general
Sept. 18, 2024 “The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by reports that a large number of communication devices exploded across Lebanon, as well as in Syria, on 17 and 18 September, killing at least eleven people, including children, and injuring thousands.
"The Secretary-General urges all concerned actors to exercise maximum restraint to avert any further escalation.
"The Secretary-General urges the parties to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and immediately return to a cessation of hostilities to restore stability.”
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk
Sept. 18, 2024 “Simultaneous targeting of thousands of individuals, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge of who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location, and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.”
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis Plasschaert
Sept. 17, 2024 “The developments today mark an extremely concerning escalation in what is an already unacceptably volatile context. While the full impact of the attack is still unfolding, Hennis-Plasschaert urges all concerned actors to refrain from any further action, or bellicose rhetoric, which could trigger a wider conflagration that nobody can afford.
The Special Coordinator underlines the urgency of restoring calm and calls on all concerned actors to prioritize stability as paramount. Too much is at stake to do anything less.”
Iraq
Sept. 17, 2024 “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani directs the dispatch of Iraqi medical crews and emergency teams to brotherly Lebanon to provide urgent assistance as quickly as possible to alleviate the pain of the injured innocent civilians.”
Lebanon
Foreign Ministry
Sept. 17, 2024 “This dangerous and deliberate Israeli escalation is accompanied by Israeli threats to expand the scope of the war against Lebanon on a large scale, and by the intransigence of Israeli’s positions calling for more bloodshed, destruction and devastation.”
Prime Minister Najib Mikati
Sept. 19, 2024: “This mass crime... against defenseless people in their homes, who are being killed in this way, is indescribable.”
“This war started about 11 months ago and it is affecting our people in the south where their homes are being destroyed.”
“We are facing an enemy that disregards all international and humanitarian laws, and the question is – can this continue? Where is the UN, whose primary mission is to distribute peace?”
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
Sept. 17, 2024: “A direct, face-to-face ground confrontation with the Israelis is what we wish for and to us it is much better than mutual shelling. The enemy knows it will pay a heavy price if it tries to advance on the ground, that’s why I rule out that it would resort to such a choice, unless it wants to commit a foolishness.”