The day after the pager bombings.. 14 dead and 450 injured in new explosions of wireless communication devices in Lebanon

Explosions rocked a number of Lebanese regions on Wednesday, killing 14 people and wounding around 450, the day after similar explosions of pager-type wireless communication devices targeted thousands of Hezbollah members, killing 12 people.

Reuters quoted a security source as saying that hundreds of people were injured in today's explosions, and that many of the injuries were in the abdomen and hands.

The Lebanese Army Command called for not gathering in places witnessing security incidents, in order to allow medical teams to arrive.

Reuters also quoted a security source and an eyewitness as saying that the communications devices that exploded in a number of areas in Lebanon today, Wednesday, were portable radios and different from the pagers that exploded yesterday.

What is happening in Lebanon now is a large-scale civilian attack.

Communication devices, vehicle batteries, motor and scooter batteries, solar batteries, timer batteries, computers, mobile phones, shavers, "lithium batteries" exploded.

Fires broke out in houses… pic.twitter.com/ZA4w3Fufov

— Tamer | Tamer (@tamerqdh) September 18, 2024

Reuters quoted a security source as saying that Hezbollah bought the portable radios five months ago, around the same time it bought the pagers, while Axios quoted two sources as saying that Israel had blown up thousands of radios used by Hezbollah members.

AFP quoted a source close to Hezbollah as saying, "A number of wireless communication devices exploded in the southern suburb of Beirut," while a Hezbollah ambulance service confirmed the explosion of communication devices in two cars in the southern suburb. The National News Agency also reported the explosion of pagers and wireless communication devices in the suburb, in the south, and in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.

Israeli media sources claimed that the second wave of devices that exploded today is part of an alternative network after the pager explosions yesterday.

Yesterday's explosions

Yesterday, Lebanon witnessed widespread attacks via pagers carried by Hezbollah members.

Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said on Wednesday that the death toll from pager explosions in Lebanon had risen to 12, including two children, while countries announced sending medical aid.

Al-Abyad explained that within half an hour, between 2,750 and 2,800 wounded people arrived at the hospitals yesterday, and that the number of serious injuries reached about 300, including children and women, not just Hezbollah members.

He added that 460 surgeries have been performed so far, most of them on the eyes and face. The Lebanese minister pointed out that many countries have contacted him about sending aid.

Source: Agencies