THE HAGUE / GENEVA, Sept. 19, 2024 – Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) condemns the series of attacks carried out through electronic devices across Lebanon and Syria, which left thousands injured and killed several people, including children, and whose methods raise significant concerns around the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law. In response to these explosions, CIVIC’s Executive Director Hichem Khadhraoui said:
“Turning communication devices, widely used by civilians and which should be considered safe, into explosive devices is a condemnable act.
“These simultaneous and possibly indiscriminate explosions of pagers, two-way radios, and other personal devices in Lebanon and Syria raise serious concern about the protection of civilians and compliance with relevant international law frameworks, including the principle of distinction and the prohibition on the use of booby traps attached to or associated with civilian use. These attacks also pose a serious risk of regional escalation and risk setting a dangerous precedent of turning everyday civilian objects into weapons.
“We echo calls from UN officials for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of these attacks and their consequences for civilians. We are also urging all actors across the region to stop resorting to warfare tactics that deliberately and indiscriminately target civilians and to act in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, [email protected], +31.6.21.69.68.86 / +1 917 889 5982 (WhatsApp)
CIVIC Communications: [email protected]
Spokespersons available for interviews in English, French, and Arabic
ABOUT CIVIC
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in conflict. Founded in 2003 by Marla Ruzicka, CIVIC now has a presence in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Learn more at www.civiliansinconflict.org and follow CIVIC on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
