Lebanon: 20 Dead, 450 Injured in Walkie-Talkie Explosions After Israeli Attack on Hezbollah

Lebanon has been struck by a series of devastating explosions, resulting in at least 20 deaths and over 450 injuries. The blasts, which were triggered by detonating walkie-talkies, occurred on Wednesday, just a day after a similar attack involving pager explosions killed at least 12 people.

The previous day’s attacks, targeting the militant group Hezbollah, have been attributed to a coordinated operation by Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, and the Israeli military. This escalation has prompted Hezbollah to vow retaliation, while the Lebanese government has condemned the assaults as “criminal Israeli aggression.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has hinted at a strategic shift, emphasizing a new phase in Israel’s military focus on its northern border with Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to facilitate the return of evacuated residents to their homes near this border.

Although Israeli officials had alerted the U.S. about an impending operation in Lebanon, specifics were not disclosed beforehand. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged all parties to de-escalate and confirmed that the U.S. was not involved in the attacks.

Medical facilities in Lebanon are overwhelmed, having performed 460 surgeries to treat injuries, primarily to the eyes, faces, and hands. Some victims have been sent to Syria and Iran for further care, while most remain in Lebanon.

The UN has called for calm as tensions continue to rise.