What it is about
Explosions rocked Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh and other areas in Lebanon, an event reportedly linked to Hezbollah’s hand-held radios. This comes a day after thousands of pagers exploded throughout the country, adding to the tension in the volatile region.
Why it matters
The incidents signal a severe internal disruption for Hezbollah, which governs Dahiyeh and other areas. These explosions could signify operational vulnerabilities within Hezbollah and reflect the fragile state of security in Lebanon. The latest incident specifically affects Hezbollah, an organization often in conflict with Israel. The heightened instability could potentially lead to broader regional implications.
Details
According to local reports and officials, several hand-held radios, which Hezbollah had acquired around the same time as the pagers five months ago, exploded. Casualties have been reported in Dahiyeh, Al-Azia, and Sarfand in southern Lebanon. The numerous explosions primarily occurred in residential and vehicular areas, exacerbating safety concerns among civilians.
What officials are saying
A security official clarified to Reuters that the radios involved differ from the pagers that exploded the prior day. Sky News in Arabic also noted that these explosions coincided with a major funeral in Dahiyeh, causing panic among attendees.
Hezbollah’s Response
Top Hezbollah official Hashem Safeiddine announced that the group is stepping into a ‘new phase’ in its ongoing conflict with Israel, indicating that ‘punishment is coming.’ This positions the organization on a warpath, further straining Israeli-Hezbollah relations.
International Perspective
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has indicated these incidents as a serious risk, highlighting the potential for dramatic escalation in Lebanon. He voiced an urgent call to avoid further exacerbation through measures posited to be a preemptive attack.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.