Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies tearing through Hizbollah’s ranks and paralysing its communications. Israel’s defence minister announcing a “new phase in the war” with the Lebanese militant group. Israeli air strikes along Lebanon’s southern border.
All the signs pointed to what easily could have been the opening move of a significant offensive, after which Israeli tanks would have been seen rolling into the foothills of southern Lebanon. But that has not happened. At least not yet.
So days after electronic devices began detonating in Lebanon — in an operation some western capitals see as a reckless provocation — one key question for the Middle East remains unanswered: what was the ultimate purpose of this attack?
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