According to international media reports, the coordinated attacks targeted the militant group Hezbollah, with hundreds of electronic pagers belonging to its members detonating simultaneously.
‘Extremely worrying escalation’
“Today’s developments mark an extremely worrying escalation in an already unacceptably volatile situation.,” Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement.
In accordance with international law, she reminded all “stakeholders that Civilians are not targets and must be protected at all times.”, stressing that “even one civilian casualty is too many”.
While the full impact of the attack is still unfolding, she called on all those involved to “refrain from any further actions or belligerent rhetoric that could trigger a larger conflict that no one can accept.”
The Special Coordinator concluded his statement by stressing the urgency of restoring calm and calling on all parties involved to prioritise stability as paramount, as “too much is at stake if anything less is not done”.
World Health Organization supports overwhelmed hospitals
World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) in Lebanon tweeted that The organization is supporting hospitals in a “current state of emergency” due to pager blasts as the number of casualties requiring medical assistance spikes.
“In addition to today’s medical supplies, WHO has previously provided trauma and other medical supplies” to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, to provide continued health care to those in need.
