New explosions were heard on Wednesday afternoon, September 18, in Beirut, in the southern suburbs of Hezbollah's stronghold, 24 hours after the attack on thousands of pagers of militiamen of the “Party of God” in Lebanon and Syria. On this occasion also, walkie-talkies and communication devices were targeted. For the Jerusalem Post iPhones and cameras have also reportedly exploded, but the news remains unconfirmed. According to Al-Arabiya, the explosion of the walkie-talkies occurred during the funeral of the son of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar, in the southern district of Beirut: there are currently three dead. Other explosions were also felt in other parts of Lebanon, including in the Bekaa Valley. In Sidon, in the south, explosions of systems connected to solar panels and fingerprint machines were recorded. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, hundreds of people were injured: in videos circulating online, people can be seen on the ground. According to unconfirmed reports, Hezbollah has asked its operatives to move away from the communication devices. Reuters He then quoted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine as saying that the terrorist group was in a “new phase” and that “punishment is certainly on the way.” As revealed New York Timesand as was already suspected immediately after the events, the first attack was organized by the Israeli secret services.
On the cover: EPA/WAEL HAMZEH I An ambulance on the streets of Beirut, September 18, 2024