Deadly Explosions Rock Hezbollah Strongholds, Sparking Fears of Full-Blown War with Israel

A second wave of deadly explosions has left Hezbollah in disarray, further escalating tensions in Lebanon and raising fears of a full-blown war with Israel. On Wednesday, a series of blasts killed at least 20 people and injured more than 450 others in Hezbollah strongholds across Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, according to Lebanese health officials.

The explosions, which targeted walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, occurred just hours before the group’s embattled leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was scheduled to deliver a major speech. This attack follows a similar wave on Tuesday when pagers detonated across Lebanon, killing 12 people, including two children, and injuring nearly 2,800. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the attacks.

Footage from AFPTV captured the chaos as explosions erupted during the funeral of Hezbollah militants in southern Beirut, sending people running for cover. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed the fatalities, stating that the attacks had caused widespread devastation, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.

These unprecedented assaults come amid an intensifying conflict between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah’s ally. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had recently announced an expansion of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, warning that the conflict’s “centre of gravity” was moving northward toward Hezbollah-controlled areas in Lebanon. Amos Harel, a defense analyst with Haaretz newspaper, suggested that the attacks had pushed Israel and Hezbollah “to the brink of all-out war.”

The blasts have triggered an international diplomatic response, with senior diplomats from the United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Italy expected to meet in Paris on Thursday ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to join these talks after discussing the possibility of a truce in the Gaza war during a visit to Cairo. The White House has warned against any escalation, urging all parties to avoid further military action.

Hezbollah, which has been exchanging cross-border fire with Israeli forces since the October 7 attacks by Hamas, condemned the explosions as a “criminal aggression” and vowed to retaliate. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib warned that Israel’s actions could signal a broader war, threatening Lebanon’s sovereignty and security. Iran, a key backer of Hezbollah, also issued a stern warning, reserving the right to take retaliatory action after its ambassador in Beirut was wounded in one of the blasts.

Medical personnel in Beirut described the injuries as “unlike anything” they had ever seen, with many victims suffering from shrapnel wounds, finger amputations, and blindness. A doctor working through the night said, “The injuries were out of this world—some people lost their sight.” Among the victims was the 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member, killed when her father’s pager exploded in the Bekaa Valley.

Investigations into the attacks suggest that the pagers and walkie-talkies were booby-trapped with small explosives, likely hidden alongside their batteries. Analysts believe the devices were pre-programmed to detonate remotely. Initial findings have linked the pagers to a Taiwanese manufacturer, with speculation that they were sabotaged at the source before reaching Hezbollah.

The explosions have dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah, already reeling from the loss of several commanders in targeted strikes earlier this year. Fears of a regional conflict are mounting, with airlines such as Lufthansa and Air France suspending flights to Beirut, Tel Aviv, and Tehran. Since October, cross-border skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have resulted in hundreds of deaths, mostly Hezbollah fighters, and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border.

As the Middle East stands on the edge of another potentially catastrophic conflict, United Nations officials have expressed concern. Volker Turk, the UN’s human rights chief, condemned the explosions as “shocking” and warned that the situation had become “extremely volatile,” urging all sides to prioritize the safety of civilians.

For now, the world watches as tensions in Lebanon continue to rise, with Hezbollah promising revenge and Israel preparing for what could become a wider and more devastating war.

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