Explosions rock Hezbollah strongholds and 20 were dead
Hand-held radios used by Hezbollah detonated across southern Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the country’s deadliest day since cross-border fighting began with Israel nearly a year ago, Reuters reported.
The explosions followed similar detonations of the group’s pagers the previous day, escalating tensions in the region. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 20 people were killed and more than 450 were injured on Wednesday in Beirut’s suburbs and the Bekaa Valley.
Tuesday’s explosions had already claimed 12 lives, including two children, and left nearly 3,000 injured.
Although Israeli officials did not comment on the blasts, security sources attributed them to Israel’s spy agency Mossad, Reuters reported.
A Hezbollah official called it the group’s largest security breach to date. The chaos within Hezbollah comes amid Israel’s ongoing 11-month war in Gaza, raising fears of further escalation along Lebanon’s border and the potential for a broader regional conflict.
“We are entering a new phase of the war. It demands courage, determination, and perseverance,” said Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant during remarks at an air force base. Meanwhile, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi accused Israel of pushing the Middle East towards a regional war by escalating tensions on multiple fronts.
The US, distancing itself from the explosions, denied any involvement and emphasised its ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. A US official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Israel informed Washington on Tuesday that it planned to carry out an operation in Lebanon, but did not provide specifics, leaving the operation a surprise to American officials.
At least one of Wednesday’s explosions occurred near a funeral held by Hezbollah for those killed in the previous day’s pager blasts, which had injured many of the group’s fighters., the report mentioned.
