A new spate of communication device explosions rocked Hezbollah areas on Wednesday afternoon, killing twenty people and wounding more than 450, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
The latest wave of blasts occurred 24 hours after the simultaneous explosion of hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members killed and wounded scores of the party’s operatives.
Initial information indicated that walkie-talkies, also used by members of the pro-Iranian group, exploded simultaneously in Beirut’s southern suburb, the south and the Bekaa regions.
The explosions occurred inside apartment buildings, cars and on motorcycles, starting fires and sending panic waves across neighborhoods.
Unconfirmed media reports said the lithium batteries connected to solar panels also exploded in certain areas.
At least 14 people had been killed and more than 3000 wounded, mostly Hezbollah operatives, in Tuesday’s explosion of hand-held pagers.
The nationwide blasts marked the culmination of a series of escalating attacks on Hezbollah targets blamed on or claimed by Israel — including a July air strike that killed senior military commander Fuad Shokr in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The pager blasts, described by experts as a “painful blow” dealt to Hezbollah, came hours after Israel said it was broadening the aims of the Gaza war to include its fight against Hezbollah on its northern border.
Hezbollah blamed the attacks on Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in Tuesday’s explosions.
Experts interviewed by This is Beirut said the wireless devices have been most likely tampered with and laden with explosives, before they were delivered to Hezbollah.
Shipments of pagers and walkie-talkies were reportedly delivered to the Iran-backed group in recent months.
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— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) September 18, 2024
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— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) September 18, 2024
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