Lebanon was shaken by deadly blasts that claimed killed 11 and wounded more than 4,000, including 400 in critical condition, according to declarations by Bassem Ghanem, adviser to the Lebanese Minister of Health. The explosions, caused by portable communication devices utilised by Hezbollah members, have impacted several regions of the country, including southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
An attack targeting Hezbollah
Hezbollah swiftly accused Israel of being behind the attack, In a statement, the Shiite group placed full responsibility on the “Israeli enemy” for what it called a “criminal act.” Hezbollah pledged that the attack would not go unanswered, threatening Israel with “fair and severe” reprisals.
The first inquiries carried out by Hezbollah point to an act of sabotage through communication devices which would have been trapped. Group authorities are currently carrying out an in-depth investigation to identify the exact causes of the explosions.
Overwhelmed hospitals and calls for help
Confronted with the magnitude of the disaster, Lebanese Minister of Health, Firas al-Abyad, launched an urgent appeal to all medical structures to welcome the wounded. In southern Lebanon, hospitals have surpassed their capacity and the wounded are now evacuated to other regions.
The civil defense has also reported that local hospitals are saturated and that coordination is underway to send wounded to other institutions outside the affected region.
An international incident
The incident was not confined to Lebanon. According to the ABC channel, more than 50 individuals were also affected by similar explosions in Syria, where Hezbollah members also operate. These explosions, just like those in Lebanon, appear to have been caused by portable communication devices.
Influential personalities were also injured in the attack. The son of deputy Ali Ammar, a member of Hezbollah, was seriously injured, while the Iran ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, suffered light injuries.
Israeli reactions
In Israel, the local media, such as Channel 12, have implied that the country could be behind this series of explosions, although no official confirmation has been given. Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisor briefly issued a declaration on social networks, seeming to confirm the responsibility of Israel, before deleting the message a few minutes later.
Israeli sources have described these explosions as a strategic reaction to recent threats from Hezbollah. High Israeli officials have been summoned for emergency meetings, where several military response options have been envisaged.
A high-risk situation
This incident could observe a dangerous turning point in relations between Israel and Hezbollah, with increased risks of military climbing. Sources close to Israeli intelligence services claim that unusual preparations have been observed on the side of Hezbollah in recent weeks, which suggests a risk of imminent conflict.
In response, the Israeli National Security Council has advised ministers and officials not to make public statements on events in Lebanon. The situation remains particularly tense, and the region is preparing for a possible military confrontation.
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