Lebanon filed a formal complaint on Wednesday against Israel to the United Nationsquoting deadly pager explosions that killed at least 37 people and thousands more injured.

The attacks, which began in mid-September, used manipulated communication devices to target members of the militant group. Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Minister of Labor, Moustafa Bayram, traveled to the UN International Labor Organization (ILO) to present the complaint in Genevawarning that this tactic sets a “very dangerous precedent.”

Bayram said the pager explosions “may open the way for many who are evading international humanitarian law to adopt this method of warfare.”

“More than 4,000 civilians fell – including martyrs, wounded and mutilated – in a few minutes due to this attack,” he stated.

Lebanon’s ‘sinister dystopian nightmare’

On the afternoon of September 17, explosive devices hidden inside thousands of pagers detonated across Lebanon, initially killing at least 12 people, including childrenand injuring more than 2,300 people, Amnesty International reported.

Their report described the scene as “a sinister dystopian nightmare,” and one witness described how “simple devices” unexpectedly became lethal.

The next day, walkie-talkie explosions killed another 25 people and injured more than 600.

Lebanon’s healthcare system was reportedly under immense pressure following the explosions. Lebanese Health Minister Dr. Firas Abiad described the attacks as “the epitome of indiscriminate attacks,” explaining that many of the wounded suffered “life-changing injuries,” including eye trauma and amputations.

Dr. Georges Ghanem, medical director of the Lebanese American University Medical Center, said the injuries required specialized treatment, noting that “they all had hand injuries, a lot of amputations and eye problems that (can’t be fixed).”

One witness described the scene as “a state of panic in every sense of the word.”

What could happen to Israel if the UN complaint is successful?

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah He blamed Israel for the attacks, stating that Israel crossed “all red lines” and promising “just punishment.” He was subsequently assassinated on September 27, when the Israeli Air Force threw a air attack at Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut.

Speaking in Arabic, Bayram insisted that ILO conventions guarantee the safety of workers, who “were at their workplace and suddenly their pagers or walkie-talkies exploded,” according to an interpreter.

Bayram acknowledged that Lebanon’s formal complaint to the ILO may face challenges, saying: “I don’t know where the outcome (of the complaint) will go, but at least we raised our voice to say and warn against this dangerous approach.”

An ILO spokeswoman said she had no immediate knowledge of the complaint or what redress might be possible through the organization.

What led Israel to attack Lebanon?

Lebanon has long been a supporter of palestinian cause. Hezbollah, in particular, has positioned itself as part of the “resistance” against Israel during its attack on Loop.

The conflict between Lebanon and Israel has its roots in decades of historical, political and territorial conflicts. disputes. Tensions began after the establishment of Israel in 1948, leading to an influx of Palestinians. refugees in Lebanon. The situation worsened in 1978 and 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon to counter attacks by Palestinian armed groups, occupying parts of the country until 2000.

This year’s events have reached their biggest escalation since the conclusion of the 2006 Lebanon War, sparked by Hezbollah’s capture of two Israeli soldiers, which caused casualties and destruction in Lebanon.

On October 7 of last year, Hamas He led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel’s history, killing about 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages. Nearly 100 people remain in captivity, of whom fewer than 70 are believed to be alive. Israel subsequently launched its military operation in Gaza, killing more than 43,000 Palestinians so far, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Local health officials do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones at Israel in solidarity with Hamas shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack. Israel subsequently began attacking Lebanon, killing more than 3,000 people so far.

As of November 2024, the conflict continues and both sides engage in military actions that have resulted in significant casualties and displacement of civilians.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.