Lebanon Walkie-Talkie Explosion: 20 people died while over 300 were injured after walkie-talkies exploded throughout Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon. The accident occurred just a day after pagers have exploded throughout the country killing 20 people and injuring nearly 3,000.
The number of the walkie-talkies that exploded is not known but it is reportedly in hundreds. Apparently, there were also bursts of landline phones in various parts of East Lebanon, it has been reported. It has been reported that the walkie-talkies were acquired five months ago, along with the pagers.
Explosions erupted today across southern Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut. At least one blast was near a Hezbollah-organized funeral for a member killed yesterday in pager blasts. A video of the incident spread widely on social media.
Who Developed These Walkie-Talkies?
Early reports said that the pagers came from a Taiwanese company; however, the company denied this. Gold Apollo, the Taiwanese manufacturer of the pagers, said the devices were actually manufactured under a license by a company called BAC, Budapest, Hungary.
Although Israel has not commented on the blasts, it announced that it is expanding its conflict with Hamas in Gaza to also target its ally Hezbollah. Israel made this statement just hours before the explosions on Tuesday.
Lebanon Responds To The Incident
Hezbollah has termed the attacks as a “massacre” and “criminal aggression,” blamed them on Israel, and said in a statement it will continue to back Hamas in Gaza, with Israel expecting a response from pager attacks that have already injured fighters and others, put some in hospitals, and killed a few.
Hezbollah stated that the cross-border exchanges with Israeli forces were ongoing and had nothing to do with the response Israel would receive for its “massacre.”
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