Beirut, September 20 (RHC)-- Israeli military jets bombarded southern Lebanon Thursday, while Hezbollah struck sites in northern Israel, after mass walkie-talkie and pager explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday killed at least 37 people in Lebanon and injured thousands of others in what is widely believed to be a coordinated attack by Israel. 
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused Israel of crossing “all red lines” as he addressed the week’s attacks in televised remarks.

“War crimes or a declaration of war — you can call it anything, and it deserves those words. … Undoubtedly, we have been subjected to a major attack in terms of security and humanitarian aspects, unprecedented in the history of resistance in Lebanon. … We say to the enemy’s government, army and society that the Lebanese front will not stop before the aggression on Gaza stops.”

Despite the widely condemned attacks on Lebanon, Israel is doubling down on its intent to expand its war on Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said: “Over the past several days, we have held a series of important discussions.  This is a new phase of the war.  It includes opportunities but also significant risks.  Hezbollah feels it is being persecuted, and the sequence of military and defense actions will continue.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has postponed a trip to Israel early next week amid the mounting tensions.  The Associated Press reports Yoav Gallant warned Austin ahead of the attacks this week that Israel was launching a military operation in Lebanon, but did not give any more details.

Despite all indications to the contrary, Washington claims it knew nothing about the Israeli plans in advance.