- Hezbollah communication ‘in disarray’ – as Israel keeps ‘cards close to chest’
- Radios, phones, fingerprint devices, as well as devices working on solar and lithium-ion batteries exploded in different regions of the country
Another wave of explosions in Lebanon was caused by the detonation of personal devices, including phones and other gadgets with lithium-ion batteries, the Al Hadath TV channel reported.
According to its information, radios, phones, fingerprint devices, as well as devices working on solar and lithium-ion batteries exploded in different regions of the country.
And dozens of people have been wounded by the latest explosions in Lebanon, security sources say.
Witnesses told Reuters that hand-held radios used by Hezbollah have detonated in the country’s south and in the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut.
A Hezbollah official told AP that walkie-talkies used by the group exploded.
The number of people killed in today’s blasts has risen to 14, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
That’s up from nine deaths reported earlier.
Meanwhile the number of injuries has risen to 450, up from 300.
Israel is keeping its “cards close to its chest” after the Lebanon blasts, the director of the defence and security unit at thinktank Civitas says.
Robert Clark told Sky News the explosions appeared to be a “multi-phased part of the Israeli operation”.
“Israel are keeping their cards close to their chest and keeping that element of surprise and we see that happening right now to Hezbollah’s detriment,” he said.
Mr Clark added: “Hezbollah still retain an immense conventional military threat to Israel, there is no doubt about it.
“They retain thousands of missiles but the strengths of Israel, particularly technologically, would be almost a mismatch for Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah’s communication is also in absolute disarray at the moment.”
Meanwhile, the blasts in Lebanon have the potential to “throw Lebanon into a full-blown war with Israel”, the director of a Beirut-based thinktank says.
Sami Nader, from the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, said the pager and hand-held radio explosions were a “hostile act.”
He told Sky News: “What happened yesterday showed how vulnerable the Hezbollah military system is.
“That is their communication, supply chain and logistics.”
He said the blasts also raised “serious questions” about what would happen next.
“It was a very serious hostile act and it has all the potential to throw the country into a full-blown war with Israel, similar to the one that happened in 2006,” he added.
This is just as the Israeli Defense Minister has declared the start of a “new phase” of war as the army turns its attention to the northern front with Lebanon.
This follows two consecutive days of blasts in Lebanon.
Explosions were reported yesterday as pagers used by Hezbollah members detonated, and further blasts happened today originating from hand-held radios.
Speaking to Israeli troops, Yoav Gallant made no mention of the mysterious explosions.
But he praised the work of Israel’s army and security agencies, saying “the results are very impressive”.
After months of war in Gaza, he said the “centre of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces”.
“We are at the start of a new phase in the war – it requires courage, determination and perseverance,” he said.
With reports from Reuters, AP, Sky News
