DUBAI, UAE - A new wave of explosions involving portable wireless communication devices has struck various regions of Lebanon on Wednesday, killing three and wounding over 100 people.
“The communication devices that exploded today in Lebanon were not pagers, but rather Icom IC V-82,” Mohammed Afif, Hezbollah’s media officer confirmed to The New Region
According to Reuters, witnesses said the devices that exploded Wednesday were portable wireless communication tools, not pagers, that were involved in Tuesday’s similar wave of explosions that killed 12 and wounded over 3,000.
EXCLUSIVE: Mohammed Afif, Hezbollah’s media officer told #TheNewRegion that "communication devices that exploded today in Lebanon were not pagers, but rather ICOM IC V-82" pic.twitter.com/V8JLqclkLK
— The New Region (@thenewregion) September 18, 2024
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Rashid Bou Habib said the explosions are “am omen of widening war,” pointing the finger of blame at Israel.
In today’s fresh explosions, some mobile phones inside shops were also exploded.
Reports indicate that multiple explosions were heard across northern Bekaa, with wireless devices and batteries involved in the blasts. In addition to communication devices, several lithium batteries in homes also exploded, contributing to the damage in various parts of the country.
JUST IN: Footage shows the aftermath of fresh explosions hitting #Lebanon’s south for the second consecutive day pic.twitter.com/Wp4TtrXUEi
— The New Region (@thenewregion) September 18, 2024
Residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut reported hearing new explosions, which simultaneously took place in other regions of the country
The Lebanese army has urged citizens to avoid gathering in areas where the explosions occurred to allow emergency responders to reach out to the injured.
Ambulances were dispatched to multiple sites across the country to transport victims to nearby hospitals.
The Lebanese News Agency also reported explosions involving solar energy systems in several homes in southern Lebanon, though no further details were provided.