Beirut, Lebanon – Yesterday, Lebanon experienced another day of violent explosions involving electronic devices, resulting in 20 fatalities and over 450 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attacks, now attributed to Israel, have sent shockwaves through the Lebanese community.
The explosions took place in southern Beirut and several other cities, including Hermel, Baalbek, Saida, Nabatieh, Tyre, Naqoura, and Marjayoun. These incidents followed a similar event the day before, where thousands of Hezbollah pagers exploded, leading to 12 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. The increasing number of explosions has instilled fear among Lebanese citizens regarding the safety of their electronic devices.
The devices involved included mobile phones, laptops, solar panels, and two-way radios, all acquired approximately five months ago. As authorities conducted controlled detonations of suspicious devices, many citizens expressed concerns about the use of electronic communication. Event planner Maria Boustany urged her team to abandon walkie-talkies in favor of WhatsApp, as she could not guarantee the safety of the devices.
Outside the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), relatives waited for news about their injured loved ones. The hospital has been under pressure due to the massive influx of patients, and many were turned away as there were already overwhelming numbers present to donate blood. AUBMC’s chief physician, Salah Zeineldine, reported that the hospital still has 140 patients admitted, many of whom are critically injured but not in life-threatening condition.
“We have frozen all elective cases,” said Zeineldine, adding that many of the patients have lost fingers or eyes. As more patients continued to arrive, the hospital faced significant challenges in treating the seriously injured, most of whom are men around the age of 30, exhibiting alarming but mostly calm facial expressions.
The question of what will happen next looms in the air. Social media is buzzing with debates about whether the attacks constitute a violation of international law or a precise military operation. Since October, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in near-daily border skirmishes, with Hezbollah claiming to support Hamas.
At the same time, Israel has intensified its plans for a possible expansion of the war against Hezbollah, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of an extension of war objectives. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that the conflict has entered a “new phase,” and Hezbollah has promised to respond to the latest attack.
Lebanon faces uncertainty and fear, and the future appears grim in light of the recent attacks and the general tension in the region.