Former CIA Director Leon Panetta Calls Israel’s Pager Explosion Operation ‘Terrorism’

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta referred to Israel’s pager operation as “terrorism” during a recent interview with CBS News.

In Lebanon last week, mass explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to members of the Iran-back Shiite group Hezbollah. The attack has been widely attributed to Israel’s intelligence organization Mossad, leading to the deaths of dozens of people and wounding thousands.

During an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Panetta told anchor Lee Cowan that the action’s by Israel are “a form of terrorism.” Panetta then added that the action’s by Israel could lead to more deadly operations going forward in the war.

PANETTA: 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. Really, a war of terror. This is something new.

COWAN: Is it terrorism?

PANETTA: I don’t think there’s any question that it’s a form of terrorism…This is going right into the supply chain, right into the supply chain. And when you have terror going into the supply chain, it makes people ask the question, what the hell is next?

COWAN: It sounds like you’re genuinely worried.

PANETTA: I am. I am. This is a tactic. That has repercussions. And we really don’t know what those repercussions are going to be…The forces of war are largely in control right now. What’s going on?

COWAN: Do you think there should be condemnation for it? Should other nations step in, including us?

PANETTA: 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.

Watch the clip above via CBS News.

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