A day after Hezbollah-used pagers exploded, killing 12 and injuring up to 2,800, the government reported that walkie-talkies detonated across Lebanon on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring over 300.
The group supported by Iran claimed responsibility for the initial blast wave on Tuesday, threatening retaliation and igniting fears of a full-scale conflict in the area.
The health ministry released a statement stating, “The new wave of walkie-talkie explosions… killed nine people and wounded more than 300.”
A source close to the Iran-backed group said walkie-talkies used by its members exploded in its Beirut suburbs stronghold during the funerals of Hezbollah members killed in Tuesday’s blasts.
According to the source, “a number of walkie-talkies exploded in Beirut’s southern suburbs,” and rescuers connected to Hezbollah confirmed that the devices had exploded inside two cars nearby.
The explosions caused panic, according to an AFP photographer covering the funerals.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported “pagers” and “devices” had also exploded in Hezbollah strongholds in the east and south, with AFP correspondents hearing explosions in those regions.
A hospital source in the eastern city of Baalbek told AFP 25 people had been wounded after walkie-talkies exploded.
