Lebanon’s health ministry said Wednesday that at least nine people were killed and 300 wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country.
The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000
Wednesday’s blasts, according to the Lebanese health ministry, were caused by walkie-talkies that exploded under unknown circumstances.
Lebanese Health Ministry officials confirmed that emergency services were working tirelessly to transfer the injured to hospitals.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep alarm over the widespread explosions, calling for maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.
Guterres urged the conflicting parties to immediately cease hostilities and restore stability.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been simmering, with exchanges of fire occurring almost daily since October 8.
The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border, with hundreds killed in strikes in Lebanon and dozens in Israel.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has declared a “new phase” of war, praising the work of Israel’s army and security agencies.
However, the Israeli government has not officially commented on the explosions.
