A ‘new phase of war’ has begun – POLITICO

This week, pagers and walkie-talkies, some belonging to Hezbollah members, exploded in a sophisticated, remotely coordinated attack, killing more than a dozen people, including children, and wounding thousands.

The Lebanese Red Cross said it responded to “multiple explosions in different areas” and remained on high alert.

Hezbollah blames Israel for the bloodshed, which has been widely condemned, including by top EU diplomat Josep Borrell and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The Lebanese prime minister described the attacks as a “serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by all standards.”

Slovenia’s UN Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, who currently chairs the 15-member Security Council, said the council would meet on Friday to discuss the beepers.

The new wave of violence has increased already high tensions between Israel and Hezbollah and raised fears of a wider regional conflict.