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Former CIA chief Panetta calls mass detonation of Hezbollah pagers ‘a form of terrorism’

By Jacob Magid 23 September 2024, 8:24 pm 129 Edit

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Outgoing US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, February 2013. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
Outgoing US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, February 2013. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

Former CIA chief and defense secretary Leon Panetta says the mass detonation of Hezbollah communication devices, widely attributed to Israel is “a form of terrorism.”

“The ability to be able to place an explosive in technology that is very prevalent these days and turn it into a war of terror. This is something new,” Panetta tells CBS.

“This has gone right into the supply chain. When you have terror going into the supply chain, it makes people ask the question, ‘What the hell is next?’ This is a tactic that has repercussions, and we really don’t know what those repercussions are going to be,” he continues.

“The forces of war are largely in control right now of what’s going on,” the former CIA chief adds.

Pressed on whether the US should condemn Israel for the operation, Panetta dodges.

“I think it’s going to be very important for the nations of the world to have a serious discussion about whether or not this is an area that everybody has to focus on because if they don’t try to deal with it now, mark my word, it is the battlefield of the future,” he says.

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