9 Dead, Over 300 Injured As Walkie-Talkies Used By Hezbollah Explode In Lebanon Day After Pager Blasts

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel escalated as Walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon and Beirut, resulting in nine deaths and over 300 injuries.

In a second wave of explosions targeting electronic devices, at least nine people were killed and over 300 injured across Lebanon on Wednesday. Walkie-talkies and solar equipment exploded in Beirut and other parts of the country, a day after hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members detonated. The Health Ministry confirmed the death toll and injuries in the latest attack.

According to state media and Hezbollah officials, these explosions follow Tuesday's devastating incident where pager bombings claimed the lives of at least 12 people, including two children, and injured around 2,800, according to news agency AP. Tuesday’s attacks, which reportedly targeted Hezbollah members, also caused widespread civilian casualties. The blasts occurred indiscriminately, affecting pagers held in homes, cars, grocery stores, and cafes. Hezbollah has yet to confirm if all the victims were its members or if civilians without ties to the group were also impacted.

Israel Declares ‘New Phase In The War’

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant addressed Israeli troops on Wednesday, saying, “We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance.” While he did not mention the latest explosions specifically, he lauded the efforts of Israel’s military and security agencies, remarking that "the results are very impressive." Although there was no direct confirmation from Israel, the attacks are widely believed to be part of Israel's ongoing operations against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah-Israel Conflict

The escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel has heightened concerns that the ongoing skirmishes could escalate into an all-out war. Israel has recently increased its military presence along the border with Lebanon. An anonymous Israeli official told AP that additional troops were deployed as a precautionary measure.

The attacks come amid a broader conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel, which has been ongoing since 8th October, following a Hamas-led assault in southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has been launching strikes in support of its ally Hamas. Israeli leaders have warned of a possible escalation of operations against Hezbollah, citing the need to secure the border and enable displaced people to return home.

The United Nations' human rights chief, Volker Türk, has called for an independent investigation into the explosions, stating, “The fear and terror unleashed is profound.” He urged world leaders to defend people's right to live in peace and security, AP reported.

Further details have emerged regarding the pager bombings. According to AP, an American official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Israel had briefed the United States on the attack. Small amounts of explosives had been concealed in the pagers, which were identified as AR-924 models, manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, a company based in Budapest, Hungary. Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese firm whose brand appeared on the devices, clarified that BAC was solely responsible for the design and manufacturing of the pagers.

Hezbollah has vowed to continue its strikes against Israel, with a statement asserting, “This path is continuous and separate from the difficult reckoning that the criminal enemy must await for its massacre on Tuesday. This is another reckoning that will come, God willing.”