At least 9 killed, 300 wounded in latest wave of Lebanon explosions : Valley Vision

Multiple blasts go off in different parts of Lebanon killing at least nine people and injuring 300 others, the health ministry says, a day after simultaneous explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah’s members killed 12 people and wounded thousands.

The mass explosions on Tuesday reportedly targeted pagers used by the Lebanese group while blasts today occurred in phones, laptops and walkie-talkies.

According to state media, walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members blew up in Beirut, with reports of similar blasts in southern and eastern Lebanon.

It came a day after the simultaneous explosion of hundreds of paging devices used by Hezbollah killed 12 people, including two children, and wounded up to 2,800 others across Lebanon, in an unprecedented attack blamed on Israel.

Lebanon’s National News Agency also said in two incidents, solar panel systems also exploded, leading to small fires that were extinguished.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by reports that a large number of communication devices exploded across Lebanon.

“The secretary-general urges all concerned actors to exercise maximum restraint to avert any further escalation,” his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement.

Dujarric also urged parties “to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701”, referring to the one that ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Hezbollah has promised to continue “its blessed operations to support Gaza, its people, and its resistance.” The Lebanese armed group said it holds Israel “fully responsible” for the attacks.

Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a mostly low-level exchange of fire over the Lebanon-Israel border since October 8.

“We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that Israel “will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression.”

Lebanon’s ambassador to the UN, Hadi Hachem, said the attack amounted to “aggression which rises to a war crime.”

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah will deliver the address at 5pm local time (2pm GMT) on Thursday and address the pager detonations.