At least 20 people have been killed, and more than 450 injured following a second wave of explosions from wireless communication devices in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry.
The blasts occurred in Hezbollah strongholds, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.
The explosions, caused by walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, followed the deaths of 12 people earlier in the week when pagers used by the group detonated.
The latest blasts took place during funerals for some of those killed in the initial attack. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the explosions, though Israel has not commented on the accusations.
This escalation comes as Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, announced a “new phase in the war” and redeployed an army division to Israel’s northern border.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed deep concern about the risk of a dramatic escalation in the region, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Hezbollah’s media office reported that 13 of its fighters, including a 16-year-old boy, were killed in the second wave of blasts.
In retaliation, the group launched rocket attacks on Israeli forces near the border and in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli military responded by striking Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese health ministry revealed that among the casualties were two children, an eight-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy.
The Lebanese Red Cross deployed over 30 ambulances to the scenes of the explosions in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that one of the devices involved in the blasts was identified as an ICOM-V82 walkie-talkie, a now-discontinued model made by Japan-based ICOM.
One explosion occurred inside a shop selling communication devices in Chaat, in the northern Bekaa Valley, and another in a home on the outskirts of Baalbek.
Medical professionals are struggling to manage the extent of the injuries. Dr. Elias Warrak, an ophthalmologist in Beirut, described the day as one of the worst of his career. “At least 60% of the people I’ve treated have lost at least one eye, and many have also lost a hand,” he said.
“The damage is extensive, with some suffering brain and facial injuries as well.”
The situation remains tense in Lebanon as concerns grow over further escalations between Hezbollah and Israel.
