People are asking ‘what will explode next?’ after walkie-talkie and pager blasts | World News

Yesterday, Lebanon was rocked by a second day of walkie-talkie and pager explosions, thought to be orchestrated by Israeli intelligence services.

The attacks, intended to target members of Hezbollah, have left at least 20 people dead – two of them children – and hundreds injured.

Ms Karouny explained: ‘People are shocked and angry at Israel. Many have been saying ‘This is what Israel really is’, and ‘it shows they want to kill everyone’.

‘People feel that Israel won’t spare anyone.’

Lebanese journalist Hassan Harfoush told the Mail: ‘Beirut has collapsed into panic. The WhatsApp groups are going non-stop. There are wild rumours doing the rounds that solar panels might explode, batteries, fridges – anything.

‘There’s fake news saying phones have exploded. I know it’s stupid but I even told my parents to get a fire extinguisher, just in case ­something blows up in the house.’

The question remains – if intelligence services are able to conduct a mission with such old technology, how far can they go when it comes to utilising civilian items for future attacks?

Israeli Defence Minister Gallant added that after months of war against Hamas, ‘the centre of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces.’

Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, whose military declined to comment on the blasts. The two sides have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the Gaza conflict erupted last October, fuelling fears of a wider Middle East conflict that could drag in the United States and Iran.

A full-blown war with Israel could devastate Lebanon, which has lurched from one crisis to another in recent years, including a 2019 financial collapse and the 2020 Beirut port blast.