Thursday’s front pages continue to be dominated by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Electronic pagers across Lebanon exploded simultaneously on Sept. 17, 2024, killing 12 and wounding more than 2,700. The following day, another wave of explosions in the country came from detonating walkie-talkies. The attacks appeared to target members of the militant group Hezbollah.

Israel has yet to comment on the attack but on Wednesday Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that the conflict had entered “a new phase.”

The ‘new phase’ comment is picked up by several of the broadsheets, whilst a handful of the tabloids report the Middle East is ‘on the brink’. Many of the papers look ahead at whether the latest developments will lead to a widening of the war – Lebanon is expected to retaliate. 

Several of the papers report on the latest happenings in domestic politics with Sue Gray’s salary one of the more popular. 

‘New phase of war begins’

‘Locals terrified at what might explode next,’ says Metro.

Metro says “first pagers explode, then radios as Hezbollah blasted,’ reporting the second hit was a “follow-up” attack on the armed group. The paper goes on to say locals are terrified of what might explode next. 

‘Hundreds of devices exploded during a funeral,’ says The Telegraph. 

The Daily Telegraph reports that hundreds of the devices began exploding during the funeral for Hezbollah fighters killed in the pagers attack. Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant has said the country was shifting its military focus towards the Lebanese border for a “new phase” of the war – launched after the events of 7 October. 

‘Radios, home solar systems and security locks also burst into flames,’ says the Express. 

The Daily Express features an image of a vehicle on fire in Beirut saying radios, home solar systems and security locks also burst into flames during yesterday’s attack. A journalist in Lebanon said “Beirut has collapsed into panic” as emergency services are overwhelmed with injured people.

‘Attack may be a war crime,’ says The Guardian. 

The Guardian has an image of relatives at the funeral of a 10-year-old girl killed in the first attack – involving exploding pagers. The paper says international observers are warning the explosions of thousands of electronic communication devices may be a war crime. 

The paper quotes the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who has condemned the attacks, believed to be carried out by Israel, and urges both Hezbollah and Israel to restrain from escalating the conflict. 

‘Israel vows revenge,’ says the Times. 

The Times leads on the vow to revenge the electronic device attacks. The paper says the apparent Israeli attack has humiliated Hezbollah and the blow will be felt across the entire organisation. 

‘Germany suspends permits to export weapons,’ writes the Mirror. 

The Daily Mirror calls it a “Walkie-talkie bomb blitz.”  The paper reports that Israel has ‘hailed’ a ‘new phase’ to the war and within minutes of the announcement being made, Germany announced that it would be suspending permits to export military weapons to Israel.’

‘Attack on terrorists kills 14’ says the Sun. 

The Sun features an image of a damaged device on a Lebanese street. “Death by walkie talkie” the tabloid says. The paper called the attack ‘astonishing’ and notes hundreds were left maimed. 

‘Labour undermining Israel,’ quotes the Mail which leads with an interview with Netanyahu.

The Daily Mail leads on an exclusive interview with Israel’s prime minister who has accused Labour of undermining Israel and attacked Labour’s “misguided” policies. Netanyahu says it would be preposterous if the ICC issues a warrant for his arrest, the paper writes. 

‘Sue Gray pay scandal leak’ 

‘Embarrassing leak shows No 10 dysfunction,’ says The Times. 

The Times calls the leak another embarrassment as news that the PM’s chief of staff, Sue Gray, earns £3,000 more than the prime minister. The paper says the leak highlights how dysfunctional No 10 is. 

‘Breath-taking hypocrisy,’ says The Telegraph. 

The Telegraph’s editorial writes Gray’s pay rise comes as the government cuts the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners saying it’s further evidence of the government’s breath-taking hypocrisy.