Hezbollah radio explosions leave 20 dead in Lebanon's deadliest day of conflict

Explosions from Hezbollah's communication devices rocked southern Lebanon for a second consecutive day, killing 20 people and injuring more than 450 in what has become the deadliest episode since cross-border hostilities with Israel intensified nearly a year ago.

As Reuters reports, the blasts followed a similar wave of explosions on Tuesday that left 12 people dead, including two children, and nearly 3,000 injured, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Lebanese officials blamed Israel’s Mossad for remotely detonating explosives in hand-held radios and pagers used by Hezbollah fighters. One Hezbollah leader described it as the group's biggest security breach in its history, a blow to the Iran-backed militia amid Israel’s prolonged war in Gaza.

Hezbollah’s communication network, reliant on low-tech devices to avoid Israeli surveillance, appears to have been heavily compromised. A Reuters reporter in Beirut’s southern suburbs witnessed Hezbollah members dismantling remaining walkie-talkies and tossing parts into metal containers to prevent further explosions.

Israel has not officially commented on the operations, but security sources said the explosions were part of an ongoing strategy to destabilize Hezbollah's operations in Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted at a broader military campaign, saying, "We are opening a new phase in the war."

The blasts, which occurred in various parts of Beirut’s suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, exacerbated fears of a wider regional conflict, especially along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah launched retaliatory rocket strikes on Israeli artillery positions on Wednesday, marking its first major offensive since the explosions. The Israeli military reported no casualties or damage from the attacks but responded by increasing its military presence along the border, moving elite units from Gaza to the northern front.

U.S. officials distanced themselves from the explosions, denying any direct involvement but acknowledging they were informed by Israel of a potential operation in Lebanon. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington was not given specific details of the attack.

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to address the crisis, following requests from several Arab states. Iran, Hezbollah’s key backer, issued a strong condemnation, with Tehran's envoy to the U.N. warning of potential retaliatory measures. Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, who was injured in Tuesday’s blasts, reportedly lost an eye in the incident, according to sources cited by the New York Times.

The blasts come as the broader Middle East teeters on the brink of conflict. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have been simmering since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, with fears mounting that continued violence could pull the U.S. and Iran deeper into a multi-front regional war.

Despite Hezbollah's strong rhetoric, analysts suggest the group is wary of provoking a full-scale conflict. "Hezbollah wants to avoid an all-out war," said Mohanad Hage Ali, a researcher at the Carnegie Middle East Center. "But given the scale of the blasts, there will be pressure for a stronger response."

As Israel reallocates military resources to the northern front, Gallant stressed that the country is preparing for the possibility of further escalation, warning that the “centre of gravity” of the war is shifting towards Lebanon. Israel’s 98th Division, which includes elite commando and paratrooper units, has been repositioned to the northern border to counter any further Hezbollah aggression.

The situation also complicates ongoing efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Diplomatic sources suggest the blasts could derail negotiations, as Hezbollah remains a key Iranian ally, and its actions could influence talks.

The aftermath of the explosions has reverberated through Lebanon, which has struggled with a series of crises, including a financial collapse in 2019 and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. A full-scale war with Israel would only further destabilize the country, adding to the hardships faced by the Lebanese people.

For now, Hezbollah continues to signal its support for Hamas while preparing to respond to what it called the "massacre" of its fighters by Israeli intelligence operations.

[Information sourced from Reuters]