9 dead, 300 injured: Second wave of explosions shocks Lebanon

In Lebanon, Hundreds of telecommunications devices exploded again on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Health, 9 people killed and 300 injured from the Hezbollah-Militia used walkie-talkies blew up.

While UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke of a possible “preventive strike before a major military operation”, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a troop deployment to the border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah vowed retaliation

Already on Tuesday, hundreds of pagers that people were carrying in their pockets exploded simultaneously in several places in Lebanon. Around 2,800 people were injured and at least 12 died. Hezbollah blamed Israel for Tuesday’s attack and vowed retaliation. Israel itself did not comment on the incident. Israel also did not initially comment on Wednesday’s explosions.

In view of the situation, the UN Security Council wants to hold an emergency meeting. According to diplomatic sources, the most powerful body of the United Nations is scheduled to meet on Friday at 9 p.m. CEST.

Gallant: “We are entering a new phase of the war”

Israel’s Defense Minister Gallant made it clear that his country is preparing for an escalation of hostilities with the Hezbollah militia. “We are entering a new phase of the war that will require courage, determination and perseverance,” he said in a speech at an air force base on Wednesday. The focus is shifting to the border area in the north. Troops and resources are being moved there.

Since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian Hamas, Israeli border troops have been engaged in short skirmishes with the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon on an almost daily basis. Due to the shelling with grenades and rockets as well as the drone attacks, thousands of Israelis have left the border region and are living in makeshift accommodation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised just a few days ago to create the conditions for the return of the displaced people.

Panic videos go around the world

The second wave of explosions hit Lebanon in the late afternoon. While funerals for the victims of the previous day were being held in the southern Beirut suburb, the new explosions were reported. Hezbollah sources said that “wireless devices such as walkie-talkies” had exploded.

Videos on social media showed panic spreading during the funeral ceremony after loud bangs were heard. Senior Hezbollah official Hashim Safieddine said in response to the pagers exploding the previous day: “This aggression has its own punishment and retribution, and the punishment will come.” Hezbollah had previously announced retaliation. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah will address the public on Thursday.

Sounds of explosions were also heard in the port city of Tyre in the south of the country, people on the ground reported. Numerous ambulances were deployed. Local media also reported explosions in Sidon and other places in the south of the country. The Lebanese Civil Defense said its teams were deployed in the south and east of the country and in the southern suburbs of Beirut to extinguish fires in cars, shops and other buildings. These areas are mainly controlled by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government had previously declared that it was preparing for a possible major Israeli attack. According to the Lebanese news agency NNA, the head of the government’s emergency committee, Nasser Yassin, said: “We have presented possible scenarios in the event of extensive Israeli attacks.” The Ministry of Education has presented a list of around 100 schools that could serve as emergency shelters. According to government sources, food reserves in Lebanon are sufficient for more than three months.

Iran offered help

Iran, which is allied with Hezbollah, has meanwhile announced that it will fly 100 injured people out of Lebanon. Most of the wounded, who are to be taken to Iranian hospitals, have suffered injuries to their hands and eyes, said the head of the Red Crescent Society, Pirhussein Koliwand. 95 patients will be flown out in the coming hours. Iran had previously sent doctors and nurses to the Mediterranean country, whose health system is completely overwhelmed.