On Wednesday, Hezbollah pledged to respond against Israel when hundreds of paging gadgets used by its militants exploded in a devastating wave throughout Lebanon.
Israel had no immediate reaction on the blasts, which killed 12 people, particularly two children, and injured up to 2,800 others.
Only hours before the strike, Israel announced that it was expanding the scope of its operations to include a campaign against the Palestinian group’s partner, Hezbollah.
“We hold the Israeli enemy entirely liable for this criminal aggression,” the organization declared, adding that Israel will “certainly receive its just retribution for this criminal aggression”.
Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, Israel’s regional arch-foe, promised Wednesday to continue its struggle against Israel in support of Gaza, while pledging to avenge the strike.
“This path remains active and independent from the difficult reckoning that the evil enemy must wait for its slaughter on Tuesday,” it indicated on Telegram.
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, is scheduled to deliver a televised statement on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT).
The round of explosives killed 12 people, including two children, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad, with an estimated 2,750 to 2,800 injured.
Some patients in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley have been relocated to Syria, while others will be evacuated to Iran, according to Abiad.
