New explosions hit Lebanon telecoms

On Wednesday, Hezbollah-owned communication equipment exploded in Lebanon, with sources confirming to AFP multiple blasts. The Lebanese health ministry reported 20 deaths and over 450 injuries, says Reuters. These incidents followed Tuesday’s pager explosions that killed 12 and injured around 2800. The new explosions involved walkie-talkies, not pagers. The blasts mainly occurred in the Bekaa region, near Beirut, inflicting injuries, including on the abdomen and hands. Hezbollah had purchased the communication devices five months prior, alongside the pagers. On Wednesday, one explosion was near a funeral for Tuesday’s victims. Hezbollah has accused Israel of orchestrating the earlier pager explosions, a narrative also reported by The New York Times and Reuters. Israel remains silent on the issue. Hezbollah has launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the Tuesday attacks.