The recent explosions in Lebanon that killed at least 37 people and injured thousands have raised fears of all-out war, with Israel declaring a “new phase” in the conflict. The attacks targeted walkie-talkies and pagers belonging to Hezbollah, leaving the militant group in disarray and Lebanon reeling from the devastation. Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon and exchanged fire across the border, indicating a shift in focus to the northern front. Israeli officials have not taken responsibility for the attacks, but the blame has been placed on them by Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities.
The Lebanese civil aviation agency has banned the transportation of pagers and walkie-talkies on flights out of Beirut, after identifying the explosive devices as Icom V82s. The Japanese manufacturer, Icom, denied involvement in the attacks, stating that the model had ceased production 10 years ago and had not been shipped to the Middle East recently. Authorities are investigating how the explosive devices made their way into Hezbollah’s possession, with Bulgaria probing a registered company potentially being involved in the manufacturing. Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese manufacturer, indicated that a Hungarian intermediary was responsible for the design and manufacturing of the products, but Hungarian officials denied any involvement.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with the Lebanese foreign minister participating in an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council. As tensions escalate in the region, efforts are underway to prevent further escalation and bring stability back to Lebanon.
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