AMN / WEB DESK
At least Nine people were killed and over 300 wounded Wednesday when pager walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon, the local health ministry said, a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up, killing 12 and wounding 2,800.
“The new wave of walkie-talkie explosions… killed nine people and wounded more than 300,” the ministry said in a statement.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government are blaming Israel for the explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah members, which killed at least 12 people, including two children, and wounded about 2,800 others Tuesday.
The Lebanese militant group said Wednesday it would continue its fight against Israel in support of Hamas militants in Gaza, and that Israel should await “harsh punishment.”, reports VOA
In Cairo, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday that the United States was neither aware of nor involved in Tuesday’s pager blast incident, while also expressing concerns about regional escalation.
“We remain very clear about the importance of all parties avoiding any steps that could further escalate the conflict,” Blinken said during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
“It’s imperative that all parties refrain from any actions that could escalate the conflict,” he added.
Abdelatty condemned the incident and any unilateral actions that violate “the sovereignty of Lebanon.”
Israel did not comment on the incident, which came hours after the Israeli government announced a broadening of its goals in the war against Hamas militants in Gaza to include the securing of northern Israel from Hezbollah rocket attacks.
Suspicion focused on small amounts of explosives being added to the pagers before they were delivered to Hezbollah. The group relied on the devices after its leader ordered members to stop using cellphones amid concerns that Israeli intelligence could intercept and track their communications.
Hsu Ching-Kuang, founder of Taiwan-based manufacturer Gold Apollo, told reporters Wednesday his company did not manufacture the pagers, even though its corporate markings were on them when the remains of the exploded devices were examined Tuesday.
He said Gold Apollo had authorized its brand to be used on devices produced and sold by a company called BAC in Budapest.