Dozens of walkie talkies exploded across Lebanon on Wednesday, a security source told CNN, one day after blasts targeting the pagers of Hezbollah members injured thousands.
Preliminary information suggested that there were between 15 and 20 explosions in southern suburbs of Beirut, and a further 15 to 20 blasts in southern Lebanon, the source said.
At least three people were killed in Sahmar in Rashaya and Western Bekaa in southern Lebanon, state media outlet NNA reported.
“The Army Command asks citizens not to gather in areas witnessing security incidents to allow the arrival of medical teams,” the Lebanese Army warned citizens in a post on X.
The latest blasts come almost exactly 24 hours after the near-simultaneous explosions targeting pagers of the militant group Hezbollah, exposing a massive security breach among its members.
Hezbollah on Tuesday vowed to respond to what it called an Israeli attack, which killed multiple people and injured thousands across Lebanon on Tuesday. A child was among at least nine killed in those blasts, which wounded about 2,800 people, Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said.
Speculation has mounted over how low-tech wireless communication devices could have been exploited. The unprecedented attack – as well as the fresh blasts on Wednesday – risks further escalating tensions in the Middle East already heightened over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
A wave of coordinated explosions rocked Lebanon on Wednesday, with dozens of walkie-talkies detonating in various locations, marking the second day of such attacks. According to a security source speaking to CNN, between 15 and 20 explosions occurred in southern Beirut’s suburbs, and another 15 to 20 took place in southern Lebanon. This follows a deadly sequence of blasts on Tuesday that targeted the pagers of Hezbollah members, killing and wounding thousands, marking one of the most severe security breaches for the group.
Among the dead from Wednesday’s blasts, state media NNA confirmed that at least three people lost their lives in Sahmar, located in the Rashaya and Western Bekaa regions. The Lebanese Army swiftly responded, issuing a public warning via a post on X (formerly Twitter), urging citizens to avoid areas affected by security incidents to enable emergency services to reach the wounded.
The timing of these explosions, just 24 hours after the blasts that targeted Hezbollah operatives, suggests a deliberate escalation in violence. Tuesday’s explosions killed nine individuals, including a child, and injured around 2,800 people, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad. In a sharp reaction, Hezbollah labeled the attacks as an Israeli assault and pledged retaliation.
The complexity and nature of these attacks have sparked widespread concern. The use of walkie-talkies and pagers in such a coordinated manner has raised questions about how relatively low-tech communication devices were leveraged to inflict such extensive damage. Speculation about the technical sophistication behind these explosions is rife, with some pointing toward a serious security breach within Hezbollah’s ranks. The group, which has long maintained its operational secrecy, now faces the daunting challenge of addressing these vulnerabilities.
In the context of ongoing Middle Eastern tensions, particularly in light of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, this spate of attacks further complicates an already volatile situation. Hezbollah’s potential retaliation against Israel could lead to a wider regional conflict, heightening concerns not only for Lebanon but for neighboring countries as well.
The implications of these incidents are far-reaching. Hezbollah, which plays a significant role in Lebanon’s political and military landscape, has been a long-standing adversary of Israel. Any aggressive response from Hezbollah could potentially draw Lebanon into the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas, making the situation even more precarious. The international community is watching closely, fearing that a further escalation could lead to devastating consequences for the region.
In the immediate aftermath of these explosions, Lebanon is grappling with the loss of life, the strain on its healthcare system, and the broader ramifications of Hezbollah’s weakened security infrastructure. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how Hezbollah will navigate this crisis, both in terms of its response to Israel and its efforts to restore internal security.
The coming days will be crucial in determining the direction of this conflict, as Hezbollah weighs its options and regional powers brace for potential fallout.