Lebanon reels as second wave of explosive device blasts Kills 20, wounds hundreds

A second wave of deadly explosions in Lebanon, triggered by booby-trapped communication devices, has left at least 20 people dead and more than 450 injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The wireless devices, used by Hezbollah members, detonated in stronghold areas of the group, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, causing widespread chaos.

The blasts come just a day after a similar wave of explosions from pagers killed 12 people, including two children, during a coordinated attack Hezbollah blamed on Israel. While Israel has not commented on the accusations, Lebanon is now grappling with the aftermath of what appears to be a highly sophisticated sabotage operation targeting Hezbollah’s wartime communication system.

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“Obviously the logic of making all these devices explode is to do it as a pre-emptive strike before a major military operation,” remarked UN Secretary-General António Guterres, warning of a potential escalation as tensions with Israel grow. This second wave of attacks occurred during funerals for the victims of Tuesday’s blasts, further inflaming fears of an all-out conflict following months of cross-border clashes sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, declared that the conflict had entered “a new phase” and announced the redeployment of an army division to the north, signaling the shifting focus toward Hezbollah’s operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the displaced people of northern Israel would soon “return securely to their homes.”

The explosions on Wednesday have heightened concerns about the integrity of Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure, as reports suggest the devices may have been compromised months earlier. Lebanon’s state-run news agency identified the detonated walkie-talkies as ICOM-V82 handheld radios, possibly planted with explosives by Israeli intelligence, according to reports from *Axios* and *Reuters*.

Dr. Elias Warrak, an ophthalmologist in Beirut, shared the grim toll on the victims. “Probably this is the worst day of my life as a physician. I believe the number of casualties and the type of damage that has been done is humongous,” he said, explaining that most of the injured had lost at least one eye, with many also suffering from brain and facial damage.

As Hezbollah faces a growing crisis within its ranks, attention now turns to its leader Hassan Nasrallah, who is expected to address the group’s next moves in a speech on Thursday. With Israeli forces already escalating military activities near the border, the region stands on the brink of deeper conflict.