Hezbollah’s communications equipment has exploded again in Lebanon, this time apparently a radio. Authorities say at least nine people have been killed and more than 300 wounded.
Further explosions have struck across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, following yesterday’s attack, which was reportedly orchestrated by Israel. A radio used by the Hezbollah militia was detonated in the southern suburbs of Beirut and the southern Hezbollah area this afternoon, according to security sources.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the explosion killed at least nine people and injured more than 300. The previous day, similar explosions on thousands of pagers killed 12 people and injured more than 2,700.
“Same sound as yesterday”
“We heard the same noise as yesterday,” said a witness in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Explosions were also heard in the port city of Tyre. People at the scene reported that numerous ambulances were on the move.
At least one explosion was recorded near a funeral organized by Hezbollah, where those killed on Tuesday when the caller blew up are expected to be mourned.
Security officials said many of the wounded had injuries to their hands or stomachs, Reuters reported. Security officials said the militia had purchased portable radios about five months ago, around the same time as the pagers.
Retaliation announcement
Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate for the pager attack. Hashem Safieddine, the head of the militia’s executive committee, announced “special punishment” for the pager attack. The group is waging a new confrontation with its enemies, he said. Israeli authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
The portable radio is believed to have been purchased by Hezbollah about five months earlier, around the same time as the pager. According to media reports, the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad planted an explosive device in the pager imported from Hezbollah months before the blast.