Lebanon has banned all walkie-talkies and pagers from flight departures from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, following another series of explosions that brought death. The move is yet the latest amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, further complicating a war between the two adversaries.
Lebanon Bans Walkie-Talkies and Pagers
In Lebanon, on Thursday, the Civil Aviation Directorate announced a new directive that the walkie-talkies and pagers the passengers were carrying should not be taken on flights leaving Beirut. The decision comes after blasts had occurred a few days earlier and had been blamed for killing 37 people with more than 3,000 injured, as these were walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah members.These devices, suspected of being part of Hezbollah’s military equipment, exploded in what is described as one of the worst attacks within the last couple of months.
The no-carry-on-and-checked-bag policy also extends to cargo shipments. This holds, effective immediately, and for now.
In the country, the airlines were ordered to brief all clients regarding the new regulations.
Explosions Shock Beirut
The attacks occurred in two incidents over Tuesday and Wednesday. The scale of destruction was described to be horrific for the number of deaths and the injury of people; 37 deaths have been confirmed by Lebanese health authorities while more than 3,000 are reported to be injured. The caches said to be exploded consisted of walkie-talkies and pagers that Hezbollah used to operate against Israel.Lebanese officials have accused Israel of making the bombings, while Israel’s government has not claimed responsibility for them. Hezbollah has been in a state of constant conflict with Israel, as two sides have repeatedly exchanged fire along the border between Lebanon and Israel.
Airlines Enforce the Ban
Following the directive, several airlines, including Qatar Airways, announced they will be implementing the ban on walkie-talkies and pagers for all flights departing Beirut. According to a statement, Qatar Airways confirmed that new rules were indeed in effect and included both checked and carry-on luggage as well as cargo shipments.“Immediate: Due to an order from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Lebanon, Qatar Airways said all passengers flying out of Beirut are no longer allowed to bring walkie-talkies and pagers into aircraft. The ban will be in effect until further notice,” the airline said.
Escalating Hezbollah-Israel Tensions
As tensions between Hezbollah and Israel escalate to new heights, on Thursday the Israel Defence Forces carried out air attacks against strong points in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces released confirmation about such attacks as seeking to degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities, beginning with the tunnel system of the group and the military infrastructure of Hezbollah hidden in civilian environments.“Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes and dug tunnels beneath them, using civilians as human shields. We are currently targeting these terrorist capabilities and infrastructure,” the IDF said in a statement posted on social media.
Israel Shifts Focus to Northern Arena
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke about the fight, declaring a “new phase” in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah. According to him, Israel is drawing all its power and military strength north to take control of the region and allow the evacuated residents to return to their homes.“We are at the beginning of a new phase in the war, and our task is crystal clear: to bring about a change in the security situation in the region, to ensure the communities in Israel’s north can return home safely, he said.
The latest imposition of a ban on walkie-talkies and pagers on Lebanon has exposed how serious the conflict is between Hezbollah and Israel. Military tension seems to have prepared both for further showdowns, as Israel escalates its air-strikes and Lebanon tightens up on security measure. Yet the situation is still volatile with no signs of de-escalation.