Israel seeking to convince Hezbollah to make deal by blowing up walkie-talkies: Reports

Beirut, Sep 19 (FN Agency) Israel, by blowing up two-way personal radios used by Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, wants to convince the movement to renounce its ties with Hamas and make a separate deal with the Jewish state, the Axios news portal reported, citing a source. On Wednesday, a Lebanese source told Sputnik that communication devices other than pagers had exploded in different parts of Lebanon. Lebanese media reported that the exploding walkie-talkies were purchased about five months ago, almost simultaneously with the pagers that detonated on Tuesday.

At least 20 people died and 450 others were injured in the second wave of explosions, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. “The goal was to convince Hezbollah that it is in its interest to disconnect itself from Hamas and cut a separate deal for ending the fighting with Israel regardless of a ceasefire in Gaza,” the source was quoted as saying by the news portal on Wednesday. In addition, the decision to carry out a second series of explosions was also dictated by the assumption that Hezbollah’s investigation would likely reveal that the walkie-talkies contained explosive devices, the report added.

Up to 2,800 people were injured and at least 12 died as a result of the mass detonation of pagers on Tuesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Lebanese government and the Hezbollah movement blamed the explosions on Israel. Media reported that pagers were used by Hezbollah as a closed communication system least susceptible to hacking and eavesdropping.