US Denies Involvement in Lebanon Pager Explosions, Investigation Ongoing
Beirut, Lebanon – The United States has denied any involvement in the series of pager explosions thatrocked Lebanon on September 17, 2024, leaving at least nine people dead and thousands injured.
The explosions, which occurred in Beirutand across Lebanon’s southeastern and northeastern regions, took place during a cabinet meeting of the caretaker government. The blasts caused widespread panic and chaos, with reports of injuries anddamage to buildings and infrastructure.
In a press briefing on September 17, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US is actively gathering information about the incident but emphasized that the US was not involved. We are aware of theexplosions in Lebanon and are monitoring the situation closely, Miller said. We can confirm that the United States was not involved in these events.
Miller also clarified that the US has not yet made any assessments regarding potential perpetrators. We arenot speculating on who may be responsible for these attacks, he added.
The explosions have sparked widespread condemnation and calls for an investigation. Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese political and military organization, has blamed Israel for the incident, claiming to have evidence implicating the Israeli government.
After examining the available information, we believethat Israel bears full responsibility for this incident, Hezbollah stated in a press release.
The Lebanese government has also condemned the attacks and pledged to investigate the incident thoroughly. This is a cowardly act of terrorism that will not go unpunished, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. We will work with our international partners tobring the perpetrators to justice.
The explosions come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with ongoing disputes between Lebanon and Israel over maritime borders and the ongoing civil war in Syria.
International Reactions and Concerns
The international community has reacted with shock and condemnation to the explosions. The European Union’s
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