Nine Killed, Hundreds Injured in Deadly Wave of Electronic Device Explosions in Lebanon
At least nine people have been killed and hundreds wounded in Lebanon after a new wave of electronic device explosions rocked various parts of the country, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. This comes just a day after a similar blast killed 12 and injured around 2,800, raising concerns of a potential escalation in the already volatile region.
The latest incidents targeted two-way radios reportedly used by Hezbollah members, escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. On Tuesday, the group had already blamed Israel for explosions involving pagers, though Israel has yet to comment on the matter. In response, Hezbollah vowed to continue its fight against Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, promising “harsh punishment” for the recent attacks.
The explosions, which have caused significant civilian casualties, have stirred international reactions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Cairo, distanced the United States from any involvement in the explosions. He called for restraint from all parties, emphasizing the need to avoid actions that could inflame the conflict. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty echoed these concerns, warning that the situation could lead to a full-scale war.
Security experts have pointed to the possibility that Israeli agents may have tampered with the pagers before their delivery to Hezbollah, inserting explosives into the devices. Hsu Ching-Kuang, the founder of Gold Apollo, a Taiwan-based manufacturer whose branding appeared on the exploded pagers, denied his company’s involvement, suggesting that the devices had been produced by another firm using its branding.
The blasts have drawn widespread condemnation, with the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Russia’s Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressing alarm over the situation. Both warned that such incidents could further destabilize the region, which is already on edge due to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and along the Israel-Lebanon border.
As tensions rise, the fear of broader regional conflict looms, with Iranian state media reporting that their ambassador to Lebanon was among those injured. The international community is calling for calm, but the threat of further escalation is undeniable.
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Nine Killed, Hundreds Injured in Deadly Wave of Electronic Device Explosions in Lebanon
