Hand-held radios used by Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon’s south, in Beirut suburbs and the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, escalating tensions with Israel. This incident followed similar explosions involving the group’s pagers a day earlier.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported 14 people died and 450 were injured on Wednesday. The death toll from Tuesday’s explosions increased to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 injured.
One of Wednesday’s blasts occurred near a funeral organised by Hezbollah for those killed the previous day, with the thousands of pagers exploding injuring many fighters.
A reporter in the southern suburbs of Beirut observed Hezbollah members urgently removing batteries from any remaining unexploded walkie-talkies and discarding the parts in metal barrels.
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We are responding with 30 ambulance teams to multiple explosions in different areas including the South of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.🚨🚨🚨🚨
More teams from the #LebaneseRedCross are on high alert and ready to intervene. pic.twitter.com/41ZhkIjfnG— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) September 18, 2024
The Red Cross in Lebanon stated on X that it deployed 30 ambulance teams to respond to multiple explosions in various areas, including southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Following the pager attacks, which briefly disrupted Hezbollah, the group retaliated on Wednesday by launching rockets at Israeli artillery positions. This marked the first strike against Israel since the blasts, heightening the risk of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AP News: The suspected Israeli attack on Hezbollah’s pagers has escalated tensions, killing nine and injuring thousands, raising concerns about a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. (Read more)
- Al Jazeera reports on Lebanon explosions, highlighting Israel’s non-response, Hezbollah’s blame, and UN Chief Guterres’s call for oversight of civilian objects to prevent such attacks. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What caused the explosions in Lebanon?
Hand-held radios and pagers used by Hezbollah detonated.
How many people were killed and injured in the explosions?
14 killed and 450 injured on Wednesday; 12 killed and nearly 3,000 injured on Tuesday.
Where did the explosions occur?
In Lebanon’s south, Beirut suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley.
What was Hezbollah’s response to the explosions?
Hezbollah attacked Israeli artillery positions with rockets.
How did Lebanon’s Red Cross respond to the explosions?
It deployed 30 ambulance teams to multiple explosion sites.
