Lebanon is grappling with the aftermath of a series of deadly explosions that have shaken the country. The blasts, which occurred in multiple regions including Beirut, have claimed the lives of at least three people and injured over 100.
The explosions are linked to walkie-talkies and solar energy systems, raising suspicions that the devices were targeted due to their use by the powerful Lebanese Shiite group, Hezbollah. The blasts came just a day after a series of similar explosions involving pagers, which are believed to have been planted by Israeli intelligence.
The death toll from the pager attacks has risen to 12, including two children. The Lebanese Health Minister, Firas Abiad, revealed that nearly 3,000 people have been injured, many of whom are Hezbollah fighters and Iranian officials in Beirut. The injured sustained severe eye injuries and limb amputations, prompting a coordinated response from Lebanon’s healthcare system to avoid overloading any single facility. Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Egypt have offered assistance in treating the injured.
Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, accusing its intelligence agency, Mossad, of planting the explosives in the pagers. Israel, however, has declined to comment on the blasts. The recent incidents have heightened tensions between the two sides, who have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the Gaza conflict erupted last October. This escalation raises fears of a wider Middle East conflict that could draw in the United States and Iran.
A Taiwanese pager maker, Gold Apollo, has denied any involvement in the production of the explosive devices, stating that they were manufactured by a Hungarian company called BAC.
The explosions have cast a shadow over Lebanon, already struggling with a severe economic crisis and a political deadlock. They highlight the volatile security situation in the region and the potential for conflict to escalate rapidly.
