In a dramatic response to a deadly attack on Hezbollah, Lebanese authorities have banned walkie-talkies and pagers from being carried on flights departing from Beirut airport. This decision was announced by the National News Agency on Thursday, following the explosive incident that claimed the lives of at least 37 people and injured over 3,000.
The Lebanese civilian aviation directorate has instructed airlines operating out of Beirut to inform passengers about the ban, which will remain in effect until further notice. Additionally, the Lebanese state news agency reported that such devices are also prohibited from being shipped by air.
The recent series of explosions, which occurred a day after the devastating pager detonations, have further escalated tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The pager blasts, described by a Hezbollah source as a “major blow,” came shortly after Israel announced its intention to expand the scope of the Gaza war to include its fight against Hezbollah on its northern border.
Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the attacks, though the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. This latest incident follows weeks of increasing hostility between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, both of which have exchanged fire across Israel’s northern border since Hamas launched its offensive on October 7th. These hostilities have added another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation as Israel confronts threats on multiple fronts.
In response to the escalating situation, the Lebanese army has initiated controlled detonations of pagers and other suspicious telecommunication devices in various areas. The army has also urged citizens to report any suspicious devices they may encounter.
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered by the Gaza war, has seen an exchange of fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border for nearly a year. This latest development adds further strain to the already delicate regional situation.
