BEIRUT. A second wave of explosions involving hand-held radios used by Hezbollah rocked southern Lebanon on Wednesday, deepening fears of a broader conflict between the militant group and Israel. This latest incident follows an earlier wave of pager explosions on Tuesday, marking Lebanon’s deadliest days since cross-border hostilities reignited nearly a year ago.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported 20 deaths and over 450 injuries in Wednesday’s blasts, which affected Beirut’s suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. The death toll from Tuesday’s first wave of explosions rose to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 people wounded.
Israeli officials have not commented on either set of blasts, but security sources indicate that Israel’s spy agency Mossad was responsible. A Hezbollah official described the incidents as the most significant breach in the group’s security history.
The explosions—first through pagers on Tuesday and now through hand-held radios—have thrown Hezbollah into chaos. The timing coincides with Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, heightening fears that fighting could spill over into Israel’s northern border and potentially lead to a full-scale regional war.
“We are opening a new phase in the war. It requires courage, determination, and perseverance from us,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during remarks at an air force base.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi accused Israel of orchestrating dangerous escalations across multiple fronts in the Middle East, further heightening tensions.
The United States, which denied involvement in either wave of explosions, said it was working diplomatically to prevent an escalation. A U.S. official revealed that Israel informed Washington of a planned operation in Lebanon on Tuesday but gave no specifics, and the scale of the explosions surprised the U.S.
At least one of Wednesday’s explosions occurred near a Hezbollah funeral for victims of the first wave of explosions. A Reuters reporter saw Hezbollah members hurriedly removing batteries from remaining radios, trying to prevent further detonations.
Lebanon’s Red Cross confirmed it deployed 30 ambulance teams to address the multiple explosions, which hit locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. The exploded devices were identified as ICOM radios, prompting the company to investigate. Although the model in question was discontinued a decade ago, counterfeit versions may be circulating.
Hezbollah purchased the radios and pagers about five months ago. Sources say Israeli spies remotely detonated explosives planted in 5,000 pagers before the devices entered Lebanon, triggering Tuesday’s first wave of blasts. The United Nations Security Council will convene on Friday at the request of Arab states to address these attacks.
Among those injured was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. While earlier reports suggested he suffered minor injuries, subsequent details revealed that he lost an eye and severely injured the other during the explosions.
Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate. On Wednesday, the group launched rockets at Israeli artillery positions, marking the first counterattack since the explosions. The Israeli military reported no casualties. Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director of research at the Carnegie Middle East Center, remarked, “Hezbollah wants to avoid an all-out war, but given the scale of the situation, there will be pressure for a stronger response.”
In anticipation of further escalation, Israel is shifting troops and resources to its northern border, including elite 98th Division forces.
The ongoing clashes have the potential to destabilize Lebanon further, a nation already dealing with a severe economic crisis, a financial collapse in 2019, and the catastrophic 2020 Beirut port explosion.
Rising tensions could also complicate ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said it is too early to gauge how the explosions will affect these talks.
As Hezbollah continues to support Hamas in Gaza, the potential for a wider conflict remains a serious concern. In a statement, Hezbollah warned, “Israel should await a response to the pager massacre,” suggesting that retaliation may be imminent.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
