UN condemns Lebanon device blasts as violation of international law, possible war crime

The United Nations on Friday denounced the detonation of handheld communication devices used by Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon this week, saying the attack violated international law and could constitute a war crime.

“International humanitarian law prohibits the use of booby-trap devices in the form of apparently harmless portable objects,” the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, told the Security Council, adding that it “is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians”.

The blasts that killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 over two days targeted communication devices used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Pagers and walkie-talkies exploded as their users were shopping in supermarkets, walking on streets and attending funerals, plunging the country into panic.

Hezbollah blamed Israel for the blasts.

“I am appalled by the breadth and impact of the attacks,” Turk said.