The suspected conversion by Israel of basic communication devices into bombs to attack Hezbollah demonstrates the deadly and confusing potential of unconventional warfare.
The unprecedented nature of the assault, with pagers and walkie-talkie radios detonating across Lebanon, also challenges the concept of “grey zone” attacks, which are typically designed to be conducted under the threshold of all-out armed conflict.
In this case, though, dozens of people were killed, including children, and thousands more wounded.
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Had such carnage been caused by a barrage of conventional missiles fired by Israel or an invasion by tanks and troops it would have been a clear act of war.
Instead, the remote-controlled explosions of pieces of technology – where it is not possible to see who is pressing the button – complicates the entire world’s ability to comprehend what is going on and to cohere a proportionate response.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied that it was behind the coordinated blasts on Tuesday and Wednesday, barely 24 hours apart.
