According to a security source and an eyewitness, Reuters reported that on Wednesday evening, handheld radios used by Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut. The day before, there was an explosion of thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, resulting in at least 12 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Reuters reported that on Wednesday, Hezbollah held funerals for those killed in the pager explosion on Tuesday. At least one radio explosion incident occurred near the funeral location on Wednesday. The explosion on Tuesday resulted in many Hezbollah fighters being injured.
Lebanon’s official media NNA reported on Wednesday multiple reports of radio equipment explosions in various locations in Lebanon.
The Lebanese Army posted a warning on Twitter urging people not to gather in areas affected by the security incidents to allow medical teams to arrive.
Photos taken by Reuters show emergency services responding to further explosion events in western Beirut on Wednesday.
Another video captured by AFP shows people in Beirut fleeing in panic.
Following the chaos caused by the pager attacks, Hezbollah, for the first time since thousands of its members were injured in Lebanon due to the explosions, launched a rocket attack on an Israeli artillery position. This marks Hezbollah’s first attack on its archenemy Israel, raising the possibility of wider conflict in the Middle East.
A security source informed Reuters that Hezbollah purchased the handheld radios five months ago around the same time they bought the pagers.
Lebanon’s senior security officials and another source informed Reuters that the Israeli spy agency Mossad, known for its extensive and covert operations on foreign soil, had planted explosives inside the pagers imported by Hezbollah in the months leading up to the explosions on Tuesday.
Israel has remained silent on the pager incident to date.
Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad stated on Wednesday that the attack on Tuesday resulted in nearly 3,000 injuries, including many Hezbollah fighters and the Iranian ambassador in Beirut. The death toll rose to 12, including two children.