Lebanon on edge after wave of Hezbollah blasts and as Israel vows 'new phase' in war

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Lebanon was on edge Thursday after Israel's defense minister vowed to begin a "new phase" in its war with Hamas in Gaza, and after pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah fighters exploded in the Middle Eastern country across two days, killing at least 37 people and injuring thousands.

Lebanon's government and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that uses the nation as a base for its militants, both blamed Israel for the attacks on wireless electronic devices. Many people lost eyes and fingers in the blasts. Others suffered serious stomach wounds. Israel has not commented on the mass attack on Hezbollah communications but multiple reports have said it was carried out by its spy agency Mossad.

Israel and Hezbollah have long been enemies and fought a major war in 2006. But cross-border fighting between the two sides has been stoked by the Israel-Hamas war and tens of thousands of Israelis have been forced to evacuate northern Israel amid waves of near-daily Hezbollah missiles since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

In a statement Wednesday, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the "center of gravity" in the Israel-Hamas war was moving north to Lebanon. He said more military units and resources were being sent to the border.

"This is not Hamas ? we’re dealing with something different, and we need to prepare accordingly," he said.

The attacks on Hezbollah, whoever is responsible, are a humiliation for the group, which has said it will take revenge. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said in a televised address Thursday that the attacks were "unprecedented" and that they amounted to a "declaration of war" by Israel.

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He said "the resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting the people of Gaza and the West Bank."

Nasrallah spoke from a secret location. As he did so, Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Its jets also made huge sonic booms that were heard in Beirut.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lebanon on edge as Israel vows 'new phase' in Israel-Hamas war