Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel was responsible for the September pager explosions that targeted Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon.

Netanyahu's comments, made during a Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, mark the first official acknowledgment of Israel’s involvement in the attacks, which killed 39 people and wounded an estimated 3,000. The explosions on September 17 involved thousands of pager devices detonating across Hezbollah-controlled areas in Lebanon, followed by the detonation of hundreds of Hezbollah walkie-talkies the next day. 

“There were senior officials in the defense establishment and among the political echelon who opposed the pager operation, as well as the elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah,” Netanyahu told ministers at the meeting.

He elaborated that while he sought to pursue the assassination of Nasrallah and a more aggressive approach towards Hezbollah and Hamas strongholds, certain Cabinet members had resisted these measures.

Netanyahu further expressed his frustration over opposition within the Cabinet.

“When I wanted to eliminate Nasrallah, to go into [Hamas stronghold] Rafah, and other things, there were those who opposed it in the Cabinet,” he said, noting that some Cabinet members hesitated due to perceived reluctance from the United States.

“Despite that, I went all the way," Netanyahu asserted.