A series of explosions involving hand-held radios belonging to Hezbollah rocked southern Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the deadliest day in nearly a year since cross-border tensions between the militant group and Israel began to escalate. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 20 people were killed and over 450 were injured in Beirut’s suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. This came after similar explosions involving the group’s pagers on Tuesday, which resulted in 12 fatalities, including two children, and nearly 3,000 injuries.
While Israeli officials have not officially commented on the blasts, sources from Lebanese security suggest that Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, was behind the attacks. A Hezbollah official described the incident as one of the most significant breaches of the group’s security to date, causing major disruption within their ranks. These explosions coincide with Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have raised concerns about a broader conflict extending into Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled a new phase in the conflict, calling for resilience as tensions rise. Meanwhile, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi criticized Israel for escalating violence across the region, potentially pushing the Middle East towards a regional war. The U.S. government denied any involvement in the explosions, though it confirmed that Israel had informed Washington of a forthcoming operation without providing specifics.
One of the Wednesday blasts occurred near a Hezbollah funeral, intensifying the group’s frustrations. Hezbollah members were seen frantically dismantling any remaining walkie-talkies to prevent further explosions. The communication devices, purchased five months ago, were intended to evade Israeli surveillance, but they were ultimately turned against the group. The Red Cross mobilized 30 ambulance teams to respond to the multiple explosions across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet on Friday to discuss the attacks following a request from Arab states. The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon was also injured in the blasts, with reports indicating severe damage to his eyesight. Tehran has vowed to respond to the attacks, warning of possible retaliatory actions under international law.
In a related development, Hezbollah launched rockets at Israeli artillery positions on Wednesday, marking their first direct retaliation since the explosions. While there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties on the Israeli side, tensions remain high. Analysts fear that further escalation could lead to a broader war between Hezbollah and Israel, with devastating consequences for Lebanon, already reeling from economic and political crises.
Source: Reuters
