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Second Wave of Explosions Kills 20 in Lebanon, Sparking Fear of Regional War
A second wave of device explosions in Lebanon has left at least 20 people dead and hundreds more wounded, officials confirmed on September 18, raising concerns of a potential full-blown conflict in the region.
Reports from a security source and a witness indicated that walkie-talkies used by members of Hizballah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, exploded in its stronghold in Beirut. Similar blasts were also reported in southern and eastern Lebanon.
The attacks come just a day after thousands of pagers used by the group exploded, resulting in 12 fatalities and over 2,700 injuries, including many Hizballah fighters. At least one of the explosions occurred near a funeral for the victims of the previous attacks.
The Lebanese Health Ministry identified the devices targeted in the September 18 assault as walkie-talkies, revising the death toll from 14 to 20 and indicating that over 450 individuals were wounded.
Accusations began to surface following the latest blasts, with Hamas, another designated terrorist organization by the US and EU, alleging that Israel was behind the attacks. Hizballah and the Lebanese government also pointed fingers at Israel for what seemed to be a well-coordinated remote strike.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed Israeli troops on September 18, hinting at a new phase in the conflict. While he did not directly acknowledge the explosions, he commended the efforts of Israel’s army and security agencies without providing further details.
The White House stepped in to urge all parties involved to avoid further escalation, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic solutions over military actions in resolving the crisis.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch’s former executive director, Kenneth Roth, condemned the use of booby traps targeting civilians, a violation of international humanitarian law aimed at protecting innocent lives.
Amidst escalating tensions, the Iranian envoy to the UN expressed intentions to pursue justice following the attack that injured its ambassador in Lebanon, highlighting its adherence to international law.
Further investigations revealed that the pagers implicated in the attacks were sourced from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo through a Hungarian intermediary, BAC Consulting. Concerns arose regarding the unusual payment method employed by BAC Consulting and its limited operational presence.
As international scrutiny intensifies, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the importance of gathering facts before drawing conclusions, emphasizing the need to prevent the conflict from spreading to additional fronts.
With the UN Security Council scheduled to convene on September 20 to address the recent developments in Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned against the risk of a catastrophic escalation and called for restraint from all parties involved.
As the situation in Lebanon remains volatile, efforts to de-escalate tensions and pursue peaceful resolutions are imperative to prevent further bloodshed and instability in the region.
(With reporting by AP and AFP)
