On the 17th, pocket pagers used by Hezbollah members also exploded simultaneously, resulting in at least 12 fatalities.
According to a security source in Lebanon who spoke to CNN, up to 20 explosions were reported in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut on the 18th, with an additional maximum of 20 reported in southern Lebanon.
Additionally, the AP reported, citing Lebanon’s state news agency, that solar power systems installed in homes exploded in several areas.
According to security sources reported by Reuters, the walkie-talkies that exploded on the 18th were purchased by Hezbollah about five months ago, around the same time as the pocket pagers that exploded the day before.
Regarding the pocket pager explosions, authorities from various countries, including the United States, believe that Israel planted explosives before the devices reached Hezbollah, according to the New York Times.
According to CNN, the walkie-talkies were distributed only to members involved in managing crowds during funerals and demonstrations and were not as widely used as the pocket pagers.
The Lebanese army posted on X (formerly Twitter), urging civilians to avoid gathering at the site so that medical personnel could conduct rescue operations swiftly .
Continuous Explosions, Attributed to Israel
On the 17th, Lebanese authorities announced that hundreds of communication devices exploded simultaneously across the country and neighboring Syria, resulting in at least 12 deaths, including one member of Hezbollah and one girl. The explosions continued for about an hour, injuring approximately 2,750 people.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” in a statement regarding reports of explosions occurring in Lebanon and Syria. He urged “maximum restraint from all parties involved to prevent further escalation.”
It is unclear whether Israel, which is in conflict with Hezbollah, will accept responsibility for the series of explosions. The Israeli military has not commented on the explosions from the 17th. However, CNN reported that three sources stated that Israeli authorities had notified the U.S. that they would execute some operation in Lebanon on the 17th. It has been reported that Hezbollah condemned Israel for committing a “criminal attack” that resulted in casualties among civilians.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified in recent months, notably after Hezbollah attacked the Israeli military along the Lebanon border the day after Hamas, an Islamic organization in Palestinian Gaza, launched cross-border attacks on Israel in October of last year. Hezbollah stated that their attacks on the Israeli military intended to show “solidarity” with the Palestinian people.
Amid rising fears that the fighting might spill over into Lebanon, the United States warned Israel not to escalate the conflict. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement expressing that it “appreciates and respects” U.S. support while undertaking “necessary actions to protect its own security.”
(Original article from forbes.com)