Solar System Blast After Pager-Walkie Talkie Incident: 32 Dead, 3500 Injured in Lebanon, Hezbollah Vows Retaliation Against Israel
Explosions continued yesterday in several cities of Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, for the second consecutive day. After pager-walkie-talkie explosions, blasts occurred in solar systems. So far, 32 people have died in Lebanon, and more than 3,500 have been injured. The death toll may rise.
Previous Day’s Explosions
Just a day earlier, on September 17, at least 12 people were killed and over 2,800 injured in pager blasts. In total, 32 people have lost their lives in Lebanon over the past two days.
Hezbollah Blames Israel for Attacks
In Lebanon, Hezbollah fighters, backed by Iran, use pagers and walkie-talkies to communicate. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the attacks. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called for an emergency meeting on Friday regarding the situation.
Domestic Solar Systems Targeted in Beirut
In Beirut and other cities, explosions also occurred in home solar systems. Reports indicate that people panicked and gathered in the streets following these sudden explosions on Wednesday afternoon. In the city of Tyre, a solar system explosion seriously injured five members of a family.
The Lebanese government has deployed civil defense members on the streets. People are being evacuated from homes damaged in the explosions.
Walkie-Talkie Manufacturer Responds: Production Halted 10 Years Ago
According to CNN, Japanese walkie-talkie manufacturing company Icom Inc. halted the production of the model used in Lebanon 10 years ago. The company has not yet determined if the walkie-talkies involved in the blasts are fake or authentic.
Iran Vows Retaliation
Iran has vowed to retaliate for the injuries sustained by its ambassador Mojtaba Amani in Lebanon. On Wednesday, Iran’s mission to the UN stated it reserves the right to take necessary steps in response to such crimes.
On Tuesday, Iran’s ambassador was injured in a pager blast in Lebanon. According to the New York Times, Mojtaba sustained an eye injury in the attack.
However, Iran later claimed that its ambassador was injured but that his eye was not harmed.
Israel’s Defense Minister Praises IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad
According to CNN, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the achievements of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), along with the country’s security agency Shin Bet and intelligence agency Mossad. This is the first time an Israeli leader has tacitly accepted responsibility for the explosions in Lebanon.
U.S. Denies Involvement in Lebanon Blasts
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated on Wednesday at the White House that the U.S. is not involved in the pager and walkie-talkie blasts in Lebanon.
According to CNN, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for the third time in 48 hours on Wednesday. Austin stated that the U.S. is focused on reducing tensions in the Middle East.
The two leaders had already spoken twice on Tuesday. In the first conversation, Gallant mentioned that Israel was planning an operation in Lebanon, though he did not provide further details.
Netanyahu Expresses Discontent with British Prime Minister
A few days ago, Britain suspended licenses for 30 types of weapons being sent to Israel. PM Netanyahu expressed displeasure with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over this decision.
Netanyahu stated that the British government is undermining Israel’s right to self-defense by halting the sale of arms. He further added that this decision would benefit Hamas.
Referring to Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, Israel’s PM told the British newspaper Daily Mail that the previous British government had openly supported Israel after Hamas’s massacre on October 7. However, he noted that the Labour government’s policy is unclear on this matter.
