Death toll from device explosions in Lebanon rises to 37, injuries near 3000
Updated: Sep 19th, 2024
The death toll in explosions targeting pagers and handheld radios across Lebanon on Sept 18 and Sept 17 has risen to 37, whereas the injuries came at 2,931, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said today.
On Sept 17 pager explosions in Lebanon killed 12 people, with 2,323 others injured, Abiad told a news conference, adding that 226 people injured are still hospitalised.
Meanwhile, the death toll in explosions of wireless communication devices across the country on the afternoon of Sept 18 rose to 25, with injuries up to 608, Abiad said.
A total of 64 hospitals received the injured, Chinese news agency reported.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a circular today banning “all airlines operating at (Beirut) Rafic Hariri (International) Airport from transporting any pager or walkie-talkie device on board the aircraft.”
Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have been escalating since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of Hamas. Israel retaliated with artillery fire into Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, and Hezbollah claims its attacks have inflicted casualties in Israel.
The recent explosions add a new layer to the ongoing 11-month clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, marked by deadly Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel.
Speaking to Israeli troops on Sept 18, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel has entered a “new phase” in its conflict with Hezbollah.
No Israeli officials, including Gallant, have claimed responsibility for the explosions, which Hezbollah attributed to Israel.
(This story was taken from a syndicated feed, and edited only for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)
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