Staff Reports
Just when it seemed that Lebanon couldn’t be any more shattered, the country found itself rocked by a second wave of explosions involving electronic communication devices, proving once again that accidents at Hezbollah gatherings should come with a warning label. This round of booms occurred merely a day after the first explosive fiasco, which claimed 12 lives and left thousands nursing injuries. If Lebanese citizens start questioning their safety, it might be time to reconsider attending those funerals.
Reports were bustling through Lebanese media channels of multiple detonations occurring across Beirut and its Hezbollah-heavy suburb, Dahiyeh. Social media was abuzz with images and videos showcasing towering flames licking at the sky where the explosions had wreaked havoc. The devices involved this time, apparently, were cleverly concealed within items that were not the standard pagers used in the earlier catastrophe. One photo that surfaced featured what looked suspiciously like a blown-up walkie-talkie, prompting speculation about who mishandled the “emergency communication” protocols.
🚨 Breaking: Thousands of Hezbollah radio devices ("Walkie-Talkie") have exploded during the past hour, in what appears to be the second wave of the attack.. pic.twitter.com/7zeEVz4S53
— 🧃Sebastián (@BengelSebastian) September 18, 2024
It turns out that thousands of Hezbollah-operated walkie-talkies met an untimely fate during the most recent explosions, according to insider sources. They probably should have stuck to regular radios—this technological mischief seems to be a case of ‘he who laughs last, laughs best.’ Meanwhile, Lebanon’s own National News Agency reported three more fatalities stemming from one of the blasts in the town of Sohmar in the Bekaa Valley. Apparently, no corner of the nation is safe from the Hezbollah-induced chaos, indicating that their communication gadgets are among the least effective in the market, right alongside their military strategies.
This latest series of explosions appeared to be packing a greater punch compared to the earlier blasts. Not only did they demolish several apartments and obliterate at least one vehicle, but at least one explosion even crashed a Hezbollah funeral. This raises the question of whether it’s bad luck or just the irony of fate that most of the devastation unfolds during their mourning gatherings. Expressing condolences must come with an added risk assessment these days.
As footage circulated showing the moment a walkie-talkie erupted during the funeral proceedings in Dahiyeh, one can only wonder if this is the fate Hezbollah has cleverly orchestrated for anyone relying on their technology. Perhaps this could serve as a new public service announcement: “Keep your walkie-talkies at home and enjoy the peace.”
