Lebanon - September 19, 2024

The explosions of pagers and handheld radios across Lebanon are a targeted crime against civilians, said Lebanese experts in interviews.

The death toll in explosions targeting pagers and handheld radios across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday has risen to 37, whereas the injuries came at 2,931, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said Thursday.

During interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), experts and officials condemned the attack, calling it a blatant act of aggression.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have been escalating since Oct 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of Hamas. Israel retaliated with artillery fire into southeastern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, and Hezbollah claimed its attacks have inflicted casualties in Israel.

The recent explosions add a new layer to the ongoing 11-month clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, marked by deadly Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel.

Speaking to Israeli troops on Wednesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel has entered a "new phase" in its conflict with Hezbollah.

No Israeli officials, including Gallant, have claimed responsibility for the explosions, which Hezbollah attributed to Israel.

Shotlist:
Lebanon - Sept 19, 2024:
FILE: Beirut, Lebanon - 2024
1. National flag of Lebanon;
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 17, 2024
2. Ambulances moving through traffic after explosions targeting pagers, handheld radios;
Lebanon - Sept 19, 2024
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Mohamed Ataoui, telecommunication and information expert:
"This is an established and committed crime, about which there is no dispute, and there is no analysis, either technical or scientific, of the presence of explosive materials inside these devices. If it had been a technical error, the explosion would have occurred in a single device, but the simultaneous explosion of some 5,000 devices proves the presence of an element inside the device that caused these beepers to explode. This has caused physical damage to civilians that could result in permanent disabilities in their daily lives. What I want to express is, imagine 4,000 people disabled as a result of these explosions.";
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 18, 2024
4. Various of people, traffic outside American University of Beirut Medical Center;
5. Various of armed personnel;
6. People, traffic outside American University of Beirut Medical Center;
7. People helping man in wheelchair board vehicle;
Lebanon - Sept 19, 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Abdou El-Keis, regional affairs analyst:
"This case is not considered a military or security action against a military entity, as this device is used by the general public in Lebanon, doctors, engineers and hospital staff, among others. This attack is therefore an attack on the civilian apparatus in general. Of course, there are also Hezbollah elements who use them, but for civilian, not military activities. Therefore, this issue is considered a blatant aggression and massacre against civilians.";
Beirut, Lebanon - Recent
9. Various of traffic.

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