Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – The death toll from the series of coordinated explosions involving Hezbollah’s pagers across Lebanon has risen to 37, with health officials reporting extensive injuries.
Lebanon’s Health Minister Fiss Abiad confirmed the latest figures during a news briefing, revealing that 12 people were killed and over 2,300 were admitted to hospitals on Tuesday alone, including 226 in critical condition. An additional 25 fatalities were recorded the following day, alongside 708 injuries, with 61 individuals remaining in intensive care.
The unprecedented series of explosions, which primarily targeted pagers linked to the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, has raised significant alarm. Many, including Hezbollah, held Israel fully responsible for the attacks.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to address the nation today at 5 p.m. local time, with expectations that he will discuss the attacks and potential repercussions.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army has deployed specialized units to detonate additional suspicious communication devices. They have urged citizens to stay clear of detonation sites and to report any suspicious objects.
Icom, the Japanese manufacturer of the walkie-talkies linked to the explosions, has denied any possibility of the devices being rigged with explosives during manufacturing. Yoshiki Enomoto, a director at Icom, told Reuters, “There’s no way a bomb could have been integrated into one of our devices during manufacturing.”
Meanwhile, Bulgaria has announced an investigation into a company linked to the sale of pagers to Hezbollah. The Bulgarian state security agency, DANS, said it is collaborating with the Interior Ministry to examine the matter, although details regarding the company have not been disclosed.
In light of the ongoing threat, Lebanon’s director general of civil aviation has implemented a new directive prohibiting the carrying of pagers and walkie-talkies on board any aircraft. This ban applies to all forms of luggage at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, with security personnel instructed to confiscate any such devices discovered.
