By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – At least nine people have been killed and some 500 wounded in Lebanon in explosions targeting walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, Israeli and Lebanese sources said Wednesday.
Wednesday’s blasts follow wide-ranging attacks on Tuesday in which pagers used mainly by Hezbollah members exploded, injuring over 2,800 and killing 12.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said in a statement earlier Wednesday that 14 people died and over 450 were wounded in the attack on walkie-talkies.
Explosions occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut and Nabatieh, Tyre, and Saida in south Lebanon. A source in Hezbollah confirmed that walkie-talkies used by the group were being targeted.
Iran’s feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday denied a report that a massive wave of pager explosions the day before in Lebanon had also killed 19 of its members in Syria.
Saudi Arabian outlet Al-Hadath had made the claim, saying the deaths occurred in the Deir Ezzor region in eastern Syria and that a further 150 IRGC members were injured.
The discrepancy in information could not be reconciled immediately. Yet Lebanese security sources said those targeted in Wednesday’s attacks primarily sustained wounds to the stomach and hands.
CIVIL DEFENSE
The Lebanese Civil Defense later said it was operating to extinguish fires that had broken out following the explosions in some 60 shops and homes, 15 vehicles, motorcycles, and two fingerprint devices.
It added that ambulances were transferring the wounded to hospitals throughout the country.
Initial reports said initial “networked devices“ explosions emerged from Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and throughout Lebanon.
The explosions occurred at and in parallel to the funeral of four Hezbollah members in Lebanon, Israeli sources said.
The funeral was live-streamed on social media platform X but ended abruptly.
Unofficial reports claimed that iPhones, video cameras, IC-V82 radios, and other devices also detonated.
Hezbollah has reportedly told its operatives to distance itself from communication devices.
LITHIUM BATTERY
Unofficial reports also claimed that Hezbollah told its members to dispose of devices containing a lithium battery or that are connected to the internet.
Well-informed sources said several lithium batteries used for solar energy storage detonated, causing some houses to catch on fire.
However, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine warned Israel that the armed group was in a “new phase” and a “punishment is certainly coming.”
Worthy News learned that the hand-held radios that exploded Wednesday were bought by Hezbollah five months ago at the same time as the pagers.
Lebanese state media claimed that drones and aircraft were seen flying above western and central Lebanon during the explosions.
U.S. sources say Israeli intelligence services, including the Mossad and Israel Defense Forces agents, were involved in the operation.
Explosions occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut and the cities of Nabatieh, Tyre, and Saida in south Lebanon.
A source in Hezbollah confirmed that walkie-talkies used by the group were being targeted.
Hezbollah urged its fighters not to carry communications equipment connected to the internet.
The explosions seemed part of a pledge by Israel to neutralize the group after they fired a barrage of rockets into Israel, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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At least nine people have been killed and some 500 wounded in Lebanon in explosions targeting walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, Israeli and Lebanese sources said Wednesday.