A series of walkie-talkie explosions caught Lebanon unawares today, killing at least 20 people. According to Lebanon health ministry, over 450 people have been injured. This comes a day after the explosion of thousands of pagers sent shockwaves across the country, killing 14 people and injuring a whopping 2,800.
Today's blasts happened across southern Lebanon as well as Beirut's suburbs. At least one of the blasts happened near a funeral organised by Hezbollah for a member who was killed in yesterday's pager blasts. A video of the incident was widely circulated on social media platforms.
Iran-backed Hezbollah said today that it attacked Israeli artillery positions with rockets in the first strike at its arch-rival since pager blasts wounded thousands of its members in Lebanon and raised the prospect of a wider Middle East war.
Here are the Highlights on the walkie-talkie explosions across Lebanon:
2 Children Among 14 Dead In Lebanon Pager Blasts
Exploding pagers claimed the lives of 14 people in Lebanon, including two children, the country's health minister said Wednesday, updating the death count a day after the blasts blamed on Israel.
Hundreds of the wireless devices exploded simultaneously across Lebanon on Tuesday, hours after Israel said it was broadening the aims of the Gaza war to include its fight against Hamas ally Hezbollah.
14 Killed, Over 450 Injured In Lebanon Walkie-Talkie Blasts
Fourteen people were killed and more than 450 wounded Wednesday when walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon, the health ministry said, a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up killing 12 and wounding 2,800.
"The wave of enemy explosions that targeted walkie-talkies... killed 14 people and wounded more than 450," the ministry said in a statement.
Initial Probe Reveals Lebanon Pagers Booby-Trapped: Report
A preliminary investigation has found hundreds of pagers that exploded across Lebanon, killing at least 12 people and wounding up to 2,800, had been booby-trapped, a security source said Wednesday.
"Data indicates the devices were pre-programmed to detonate and contained explosive materials planted next to the battery," the official told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
UN Security Council To Meet On Friday Over Lebanon Pager Blasts
The United Nations Security Council will meet on Friday over the pager blasts in Lebanon targeting militant group Hezbollah, said Slovenia's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, president of the 15-member council for September.
The meeting was requested by Algeria on behalf of Arab states, he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the pager blasts targeting Hezbollah indicate "a serious risk of a dramatic escalation in Lebanon and everything must be done to avoid that escalation."
All-Out War Fears As New Lebanon Device Blasts Kill 9, Injure 300
A second wave of device explosions killed nine people and wounded more than 300 in Hezbollah strongholds of Lebanon on Wednesday, officials said, stoking fears of an all-out war in the region.
A source close to Hezbollah said walkie-talkies used by its members blew up in its Beirut stronghold, with state media reporting similar blasts in south and east Lebanon.
AFPTV footage showed people running for cover when an explosion went off during a funeral for Hezbollah militants in south Beirut in the afternoon.
9 Dead, 300 Injured As Walkie-Talkies Explode In Hezbollah Units Across Lebanon
Nine people have died and more than 300 others wounded as walkie-talkies have blown up at Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon. This comes a day after pagers exploded across the middle-eastern country, killing twelve people and injuring nearly 3,000 others.
How many walkie-talkies blew up are not know yet. There are reports that landline telephones exploded too at various locations in East Lebanon.
According to reports, the hand-held wireless radio devices and walkie-talkies were bought around five months ago, approximately the same time as the pagers. Read more.
9 Killed In Lebanon Walkie-Talkie Blasts, What We Know So Far
While Lebanon was still reeling from the shock of yesterday's pager blasts that killed 12 people, the country has been shaken with a fresh series of nationwide walkie-talkie explosions, which have killed nine people so far and has injured hundreds.