Walkie-talkie blasts, air strikes as Israelis move to 'new phase'

Israel bombed southern Lebanon yesterday and said it had thwarted an Iran-backed assassination plot, a day after explosions of Hezbollah radios followed blasts in booby-trapped pagers, setting the foes hurtling toward war.

The sophisticated attacks on communications equipment used by Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah have sown disarray in Lebanon and are increasingly viewed as heralding a return to all-out war, last fought 18 years ago.

Walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon's south on Wednesday in the deadliest day since cross-border fighting erupted between the militants and Israel in conjunction with the Gaza war nearly a year ago that was sparked by Hamas' October 7 attacks in Israel.

Lebanon's health ministry said 25 people were killed and more than 450 injured on Wednesday in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, while the death toll from Tuesday's pager explosions rose to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 injured.

Japan's Icom, whose brand appears on walkie-talkies that exploded in Lebanon, said it halted production a decade ago of the model allegedly used in the attacks.

Taiwan-based Gold Apollo said the pagers used in attacks earlier in the week were made under license by a Budapest-based firm.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the United Nations security council to take a firm stand to stop Israel's "aggression" and "technological war."

Israeli security services said they had arrested an Israeli businessman last month who had attended at least two meetings in Iran to discuss assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the defense minister or the head of Shin Bet spy agency.

Overnight, Israeli jets and artillery hit Hezbollah targets in Chihine, Tayibe, Blida, Meiss El Jabal, Aitaroun and Kfarkela in southern Lebanon, as well as a weapons storage facility in Khiam.

After the pager blasts, Hezbollah fired 20 projectiles into Israel, most of which were intercepted by air defense systems.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the war was moving into a new phase, with more resources and military units now being shifted to the north.

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