THE description of deadly explosions in Lebanon as “a spectacular coup from a thriller” and “like WWII-era MI5 on steroids” by BBC and GB News journalists has sparked fierce criticism.
Explosions went off in Beirut and multiple parts of Lebanon in a second wave of detonations of electronic devices, with walkie-talkies and even solar equipment being targeted by Israel, resulting in nine deaths and 300 injuries.
It came a day after an Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah which killed 12 and wounded nearly 3000.
In his analysis of Israel’s actions, BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen described it as a “tactical triumph”.
He wrote: “Israel has scored a significant tactical triumph in this operation – the sort of spectacular coup you would read about in a thriller.
“And undoubtedly it’s a humiliation for Hezbollah, which will increase its insecurity and be bad for morale.”
The language chosen in the BBC’s analysis sparked a backlash.
One person wrote on Twitter/X: “I can just imagine Jeremy Bowen and the BBC gushing about al-Qaeda's 'tactical triumph' and 'spectacular coup' after it had just blown holes in hundreds of off-duty British soldiers, and some of their wives, children or simply passers-by, via their phones. Can't you?”
Another Twitter/X user added: “I can barely believe what I am reading today. The media glee at this terrorist outrage and blowing up a 10-year-old girl brings the Western press to a new moral low.”
I can barely believe what I am reading today. The media glee at this terrorist outrage and blowing up a ten year old girl brings the Western press to a new moral low.
— Nick Weir-Williams (@nickwwpt) September 18, 2024
At least 12 people were killed, including two children, and about 2800 people wounded as hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members began detonating wherever they happened to be: in homes, cars, at grocery stores and in cafes.
As the second round of explosions came, blasts were heard at a funeral in Beirut for three Hezbollah members and a child killed by exploding pagers the day before.
Responding to this wave of attacks, GB News deputy political editor and presenter Tom Harwood said: “Mossad are just so good at this stuff. It’s like WWII-era MI5 on steroids. Intelligence wins wars.”
When asked whether it constituted a war crime, he added: “The precise and targeted execution of terrorists is not a war crime.”
In reply to Harwood, an article from the New York Times was quoted, reading: “Fatima was in the kitchen on Tuesday when a pager on the table began to beep, her aunt said. She picked up the device to bring it to her father and was holding it when it exploded, mangling her face and leaving the room covered in blood, she said. ‘Fatima was trying to take courses in English,’ Ms Mousawi said.”
https://t.co/mGoDD18zgb pic.twitter.com/PKKIJE7vbQ
— Philip Proudfoot 🇱🇧🇵🇸 (@PhilipProudfoot) September 18, 2024
Someone else added: “Conservative blokes’ obsession with espionage and foreign interference like this isn't just toe-curling imperial nostalgia cringe of the highest order – it's responsible for untold death & destruction across the globe over centuries.”
Conservative blokes obsession with espionage & foreign interference like this isn't just toe-curling imperial nostalgia cringe of the highest order it's responsible for untold death & destruction across the globe over centuries https://t.co/thnCYLU2IQ
— LiLBaz (@lil_bazza) September 18, 2024
National contributor Owen Jones also issued a warning over the response among the commentariat to the deaths.
He wrote: “If Hezbollah blew up the phones or pagers of Israeli reservists, inevitably killing and maiming children and bystanders, those cheering on Israel now would be denouncing an obscene act of terrorism. And anyone publicly cheering it on in the West would be liable for arrest.
“Western commentators keep loudly telling the world they don’t believe Arab life matters. They don’t seem to realise everyone can hear them. They are sowing the seeds of a bitter harvest we will reap for generations to come.”
In the wake of the explosions, Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant (above) declared the start of a “new phase” of the war as Israel turns its focus toward the northern front against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, while it also bombards Gaza.
Speaking to Israeli troops on Wednesday, Gallant made no mention of the explosions of electronic devices in Lebanon in recent days. But he praised the work of Israel’s army and security agencies, saying “the results are very impressive”.
