A series of devastating explosions involving communication devices in Lebanon has resulted in at least 14 fatalities and over 450 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The incidents occurred late Wednesday afternoon, targeting walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah in the southern regions of the country and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
This new wave of violence follows a deadly incident the previous day, in which exploding pagers killed 12 people and injured approximately 2,800 in Lebanon and Syria.
The Health Ministry's statement described the explosions as a "wave of enemy attacks," which have caused significant casualties and destruction. The devices reportedly involved in these explosions were linked to Hezbollah, a group accused of using these communication tools for its operations.
The incidents have further exacerbated the already tense situation in the region. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to return tens of thousands of residents who were evacuated from northern border areas back to their homes.
Netanyahu's brief video statement, however, did not address the recent operations involving the detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies.
"This move is a step towards restoring normalcy, but the security situation remains precarious," Netanyahu said. He refrained from elaborating on the military operations or the technology used in the recent attacks.
In the United States, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has demanded a comprehensive explanation from Congress regarding Israel's role in the recent explosions.
She has criticised the attacks as a violation of international humanitarian law and expressed concern over potential U.S. involvement in the development or deployment of the devices used in the explosions.
"This attack clearly and unequivocally violates international humanitarian law and undermines U.S. efforts to prevent a broader conflict," Ocasio-Cortez stated. "Congress needs a full accounting of the situation, including answers from the State Department about any U.S. assistance related to this technology."
