New explosions of Hezbollah communication devices, casualties reported

(Patria) - New explosions of walkie-talkies (handheld radio devices) used by Hezbollah were recorded today in Lebanon, in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut, Reuters reported, citing security sources and eyewitness accounts.

At least one explosion occurred near a funeral organized by Hezbollah for its members killed the previous day, when thousands of pagers exploded across the country, RSE reports.

AFP reported, citing official statements, that three people were killed and more than 100 injured in a second wave of device explosions in Lebanon today.

According to AFP, a source close to Hezbollah said that the walkie-talkies used by members of the militant group exploded in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut, while state media report similar explosions in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, announced today that it carried out a rocket attack on Israeli artillery positions.

Reuters reports, citing high-ranking security sources in Lebanon, that the explosives in the pagers of Hezbollah members were planted by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad months before they were detonated.

"The number of casualties in the explosions has risen to 12, including two children," Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said today.

Nearly 3,000 people were injured in yesterday's attack, including Hezbollah fighters and an Iranian envoy in Beirut.

Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, whose army has refused to comment on the explosions. A statement said Hezbollah would continue to support Hamas in Gaza and that Israel "should expect a response to the massacre".

The two sides have been engaged in a cross-border war since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza last October, fueling fears of a wider Middle East conflict that could draw in the US and Iran.

The Taiwanese pager manufacturer has denied producing the pager devices that exploded in an attack that increased the prospects of a full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Thousands of pagers carried by members of the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, which exploded yesterday in a series within an hour, are suspected to have been loaded with explosives, and their manufacturer is the Hungarian company BAC Consulting.