Hezbollah Hit In New Round Of Explosions Across Lebanon, Casualties Climb

Lebanon is reeling from a second wave of deadly explosions targeting Hezbollah operatives, as walkie-talkies and other wireless devices detonated across the country on Wednesday. The blasts come just a day after a massive wave of pager explosions killed 12 people, including two children, and injured nearly 2,800 more.

What Happened: The second round of explosions hit multiple areas, including Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage as fires broke out in homes and shops, and rescue teams scrambled to respond, AP News reports.

The New York Times reports that at least nine people have been killed and over 300 injured in the latest round of explosions, citing Lebanon's Health Ministry.

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Tuesday's initial wave of attacks crippled Hezbollah, with pagers used by the group's members exploding almost simultaneously. Devices detonated in public areas like grocery stores and cafes, with civilians and Hezbollah fighters among the casualties.

Why It Matters: Although Israel has not officially commented, Hezbollah has blamed Tuesday’s attack on Israeli forces, vowing retaliation. The explosions mark a significant escalation in the ongoing shadow war between Hezbollah and Israel, which has intensified since the Gaza conflict began last October.

Lebanese authorities have condemned the attacks as violations of international law, with United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council will be held Friday, according to The New York Times.

The U.S. State Department said it had no prior knowledge of the attack. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have increased their presence along the Lebanese border in anticipation of potential Hezbollah retaliation. U.S. officials are closely monitoring the situation, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. is assessing the impact of the attack on ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

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