A series of large-scale explosions of civilian equipment highlighted the increasing threats posed by the weaponization of civilian electronic devices in modern warfare, said Chinese experts, who pinpointed the security loopholes of the global supply chain of civilian communication devices.
Hand-held radios used by armed group Hezbollah detonated on Wednesday across Lebanon's south in the country's deadliest day since cross-border fighting erupted between the militants and Israel nearly one year ago, Reuters reported. The agency quoted Lebanon's health ministry as saying that 20 people were killed and more than 450 injured on Wednesday in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, while the death toll from Tuesday's pagers explosion rose to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 injured.
"China is following closely the relevant incident. We oppose any act that infringes on Lebanon's sovereignty and security and express concerns over possible escalation of tensions in the region that this incident might trigger. China calls on relevant parties to earnestly safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East," Lin Jian, spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday.
Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary on Tuesday condemned the detonation of the pagers - hand-held devices that Hezbollah and others in Lebanon use to send messages - as an "Israeli aggression." Hezbollah said Israel would receive "its fair punishment" for the blasts, AFP reported.
However, there was no comment from Israel as yet. "The center of gravity is moving northward," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, during a visit to an air base on Wednesday, according to AFP.
Israel bombed southern Lebanon on Thursday and said it had thwarted an "Iran-backed assassination plot." Israeli security services said on Thursday they had arrested an Israeli citizen last month on suspicion of involvement in an "Iran-backed assassination plot." The businessman with connections in Turkey had attended at least two meetings in Iran to discuss assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the defense minister or the head of the Shin Bet spy agency.
Overnight, Israeli jets and artillery hit multiple targets in southern Lebanon, Israel's military said.
