Walkie-Talkies, Pagers Explode Across Lebanon in Series of Apparent Attacks amid Tension with Israel

Mar. 15, 2025

People gather as fire fighters put out the flames at the scene of a reported device explosion in Saida, Lebanon, on Sept. 18, 2024.Photo:MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty

MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty

The country’s health minister said 14 people were killed and 450 were injured in the latest explosions,Reutersreported. Meanwhile, the death toll from the initial pager blasts rose to 12, including two children, with about 3,000 injured.

Lebanon’s Red Crosssaid in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter)after the second attack that they were responding with “30 ambulance teams to multiple explosions in different areas including the South of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.”

The country’s civil defense forcesaid in a translated post on Xthat officials were working to extinguish fires that broke out “inside homes, cars and shops.”

“There are buildings burning right now in front of me,” Mortada Smaoui toldThe New York Timesafter the explosions rocked his neighborhood in the Sept. 18 attack.

Marwan Naamani/picture alliance via Getty

Though Israel declined to comment on the first explosions,CNNreported that Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared to reference the blasts on Sept. 18.

“We are at the beginning of a new era in this war and we need to adapt ourselves,” Gallant said.

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Despite the blasts, Hezbollah vowed to continue its campaign against Israel until it ends its war in Gaza, according to theTimes. The confrontation between Israel and Lebanon has caused over 150,000 to flee their homes.

source: people.com