Walkie-talkies explode across Lebanon killing 20 and injuring 450 in latest attack

They were burying the dead of Tuesday's explosions when they began again, as ITV News' International Editor Emma Murhpy, Senior International Correspondent John Irvine and Correspondent Neil Connery report

At least 20 people have been killed and more than 450 injured after walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded in Lebanon a day after a similar attack left thousands wounded.

Exploding electronic devices were reported in multiple regions of Lebanon on Wednesday, including at a funeral in southern Beirut for a child and three Hezbollah members killed by exploding pagers the day before.

A Hezbollah official said walkie-talkies used by the group exploded as part of blasts heard across Beirut.

Soon after the explosion Israel's defence minister declared the start of a “new phase” of the war as his country turned towards focusing on Lebanon and Hezbollah.

ITV News footage of the scene after Wednesday's explosions at a funeral

Speaking to Israeli troops on Wednesday, Yoav Gallant made no mention of the explosions of electronic devices in Lebanon in recent days. But he praised the work of Israel’s army and security agencies, saying "the results are very impressive."

He said that after months of war against Hamas militants in Gaza, "the centre of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces.”

"We are at the start of a new phase in the war - it requires courage, determination and perseverance," he said.

Israel’s army chief also said they had drawn up new plans to strike Hezbollah and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated recent statements saying returning people to their homes in the north of the country was his government's priority.

Israel has refused to comment on whether it was behind the pager attacks but Hezbollah and Iran have both blamed them.

ITV News International Editor Emma Murphy said the funeral was coming to an end and a group of young Scouts had just formed to lead the procession of coffins when the explosion happened a few metres from where they stood.

She said a hand was blown off and panicking people began screaming to turn off all their devices.

The blasts come a day after exploding pagers killed 12 people, including two children, and left 3,000 people in hospital.

The newly delivered pagers were given to Hezbollah to help communicate without using telecommunications that could be intercepted by Israel.

The US said it was not involved in either of the attacks and called for all sides to avoid escalation.

Before the latest attacks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against escalation saying: "Obviously the logic of making all these devices explode is to do it as a preemptive strike before a major military operation.

"So as important as the event in itself, is the indication that this event confirms that there is a serious risk of a dramatic escalation in Lebanon."

The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called the attacks a violation of international humanitarian law and called for an "independent, thorough and transparent investigation."

The explosions come amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, who have exchanged fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since the October 7 attack by Hamas.

The pagers that blew up were reportedly acquired by Hezbollah after the group’s leader ordered members in February to stop using mobile phones, warning they could be tracked by Israeli intelligence.

A Hezbollah official told the Associated Press the pagers were a new brand, but declined to say how long they had been in use.

Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, whose AR-924 pagers were linked to those used by Hezbollah, said BAC Consulting KFT, a Budapest-based company, manufactured them.

“According to the cooperation agreement, we authorise BAC to use our brand trademark for product sales in designated regions, but the design and manufacturing of the products are solely the responsibility of BAC,” the company said in a statement.

BAC is yet to issue a statement.

At about 3:30pm local time on Tuesday, as people shopped for groceries, sat in cafes or drove cars and motorcycles in the afternoon traffic, the pagers in their hands or pockets started heating up and then exploding.

Members of Hezbollah and the Iranian ambassador were among those injured.

Lebanese health minister Firas Abiad said an unspecified number of healthcare workers were also killed and that two-thirds of the wounded needed hospital treatment.

He said the scale of the incident was far greater than the thousands wounded in the massive Beirut Port explosion in 2020, and that most of those wounded were in Beirut and its southern suburbs.

One of those killed was the son of a Hezbollah member in Parliament, according to the Hezbollah official who spoke anonymously.Iranian state-run IRNA news agency said that the country’s ambassador, Mojtaba Amani, was superficially wounded by an exploding pager and was being treated at a hospital.

Iran, one of Hezbollah's primary supporters, has accused the US and its allies of backing the attack.

Iran has already sent a group of Iranian medics to Lebanon to help victims of the explosions.

While Israel has not claimed responsibility, a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Israel had briefed the United States after the attack.

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Hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel have been killed in clashes across the border since October 7, which have also displaced tens of thousands on both sides.

Israel said on Tuesday that stopping Hezbollah’s attacks in the north to allow residents to return to their homes is now an official goal.

Israel’s military said they had intercepted two suspicious drones that approached Israel from Lebanon and Iraq on Wednesday morning.

It said one drone was launched from Lebanon over the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of northern Israel, while another was launched from Iraq and intercepted by Israeli fighter jets. No injuries or damage were reported.

The Foreign Office also updated its travel advice to include information on the explosion of communication devices, saying British nationals in Lebanon should exercise caution and that hospitals may be very busy.

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