Beirut, Lebanon: Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel sharply grew since October 7, 2023 with the Israel-Hamas conflict raging in Gaza. Explosions in the last two days have taken at least 32 lives in Lebanon and wounded more than 3,250 others, fueling fears for a full-scale war.
Explosions Across Hezbollah Strongholds
The latest round of blasts began on Wednesday in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold when walkie-talkies reportedly belonging to Hezbollah militants exploded, killing at least 20 persons and more than 450 injured. One of the blasts occurred near a funeral procession launched by Hezbollah in respect for those killed in similar explosions the day before. Thousands of pagers exploded on Tuesday, killing 12 people, including two children, and injuring over 2,800.
Israeli Spies Accused of Sabotage
Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy in the region, accused Israel of masterminding the attacks, claiming that Israeli agents remotely detonated explosives they had planted in a shipment of 5,000 pagers ordered by the group. Hezbollah members increasingly rely on pagers and walkie-talkies to circumvent Israel’s advanced monitoring of mobile phones. However, no official statement has been made by the Israeli government on the blasts.
Explosions Grow Regional Concerns
The group retaliated back by rocket attacks towards the artillery positions of Israel. However, there were no casualties and minimal damage with regard to reports from the Israeli military. International concerns grew when the United Nations Chief, Antonio Guterres, warned that the situation poses a critical threat of dramatic escalation in Lebanon.
United States has also responded to this with National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby appealing all parties involved to desist from further military escalations. United Nations Security Council is scheduled to sit on Friday to deliberate on the situation in Lebanon.
Hezbollah Strongholds Hit by Deadly Blasts , Hezbollah Blames Israel for Remote Explosions , US and UN Call for De-escalation as Situation Worsens
As tensions between Hezbollah and Israel escalate, the international community waits with bated breath to see if these latest incidents will flare into wider conflict in already troubled Middle East.