Fear in Beirut: "Pulled out all cables quickly"

In a country already ravaged by crisis, ordinary flashlights and walkie-talkies have suddenly exploded like thousands of small bombs. Anxious Beirut residents pulled out the cords from their home electronics. They try to understand how to protect themselves, but it seems impossible, says Jumanah, a mother of two.

» Updated: September 21 2024

» Published: September 18 2024

Fear in Beirut: "Pulled out all cables quickly"
Photo: Privata bilder via TT

Jumanah Zabaneh, 48, feels a certain anxiety when she talks to TT on the phone from Beirut, after Tuesday's explosions.

What happened makes us all afraid of our own electronic devices, she says.

I'm talking on my mobile phone now and it's as if it could explode at any moment, if something had happened.

When the explosions occurred across the country on Tuesday, her family quickly unplugged all cables and removed batteries from devices at home.

Sirens all night

The family lives between two of Beirut's two largest hospitals. During the night to Wednesday, they were kept awake by persistent ambulance sirens.

It's hard to explain to my children: What's happening, why, and this public campaign to donate blood. People are going to give blood, people are in need of blood, you see blood everywhere, says Jumanah Zabaneh.

When her daughters, 9 and 11 years old, have asked why they can't go to school, she has said that it's because Israel has launched an attack and hurt many people.

And that the hospitals are full and that there will be a lot of traffic. And that many people are mourning or are busy taking care of their loved ones, says Zabaneh, who doesn't want to say more and risk making the children afraid of their phones and tablets.

That the attack could be said to have been entirely directed against the Islamist movement Hezbollah doesn't impress her much:

Some devices exploded in people's homes, on street markets, in grocery stores. Children were killed.

Rushed home in fear

The confusion was great at first, says Beirut resident Mohamad Halabi to TT over the phone.

We thought that all pagers would explode, and feared that it could also happen to mobile phones, says the 48-year-old father of two.

Halabi rushed home from work in fear. In his car, he was passed by numerous motorcycles with injured or bandaged people on their way to or from hospitals.

There was a lot of traffic and congestion. I hoped that nothing would happen before I had managed to get home and removed the phones from my children.

The picture of what happened began to clear up later, but he didn't let his teenage daughters watch TV in the evening so they wouldn't get scared. Everyone is already afraid, says Halabi:

For my part, I realized that if something were to happen, if war were to break out here, we might not be able to get medical care at hospitals and would have to take care of ourselves.

On Tuesday afternoon, large quantities of pagers suddenly exploded, allegedly belonging to members of the extremist Islamist Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

The explosions occurred simultaneously in several areas of Lebanon, as well as in Syria.

In many places, the explosions occurred in public areas in the middle of the afternoon rush, when many people were buying groceries, sitting in cafes, or were in traffic.

At least 2,750 people were injured, according to Lebanese healthcare. At least nine people have been killed, including a girl.

Hezbollah points to Israel as responsible, which is supported by source information in international media reports. The events have not been commented on from an Israeli perspective.

On Wednesday, further explosions occurred in Lebanon. According to local authorities, the explosions are linked to walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah.

Since the war in Gaza broke out on October 7, with Hamas' terrorist attack, Israel and Hezbollah have been attacking each other on a daily basis. Several leading politicians in Israel have recently advocated for full-scale war against Hezbollah, which is a much larger and better-equipped enemy than Hamas in Gaza.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

EU Commits 12 Billion Euros
1 MIN READ

EU Commits 12 Billion Euros to Boost Central Asia Ties

Bomb Explosion at Bolivian Gold
1 MIN READ

Bomb Explosion at Bolivian Gold Mine Kills Five in Cooperative Dispute

Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill
1 MIN READ

Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill at Least 30 as Ground Offensive Expands

Norwegian Royal Marius Borg Høiby
1 MIN READ

Norwegian Royal Marius Borg Høiby Declines Police Questioning Over Leak Fears

Trump Reshuffles Intelligence Chiefs After
2 MIN READ

Trump Reshuffles Intelligence Chiefs After Meeting with Activist Loomer

TikTok's Future in the US
3 MIN READ

TikTok's Future in the US Hangs in the Balance as Decision Looms

South Korea's Yoon Ousted After
2 MIN READ

South Korea's Yoon Ousted After Martial Law Controversy

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Norwegian Ship's Record Cocaine Haul Seized in South Korea

Putin's Envoy Sees Positive Shift
1 MIN READ

Putin's Envoy Sees Positive Shift in US-Russia Relations

Russian Drone Strikes Kill Four
1 MIN READ

Russian Drone Strikes Kill Four in Kharkiv, Injure Dozens Across Ukraine

Israel Updates Music Festival Death
2 MIN READ

Israel Updates Music Festival Death Toll to 378 After Investigation

Two Dead in Norwegian Plane
1 MIN READ

Two Dead in Norwegian Plane Crash Near Bergen Lake

Pentagon Probes Use of Signal
1 MIN READ

Pentagon Probes Use of Signal App for Discussing Yemen Attack Plans

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Frederiksen to USA: Annexation Not an Option, Let's Strengthen Arctic Security

Seoul Braces for Verdict as
3 MIN READ

Seoul Braces for Verdict as South Korea Awaits Yoon's Fate

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises as Aid Efforts Intensify

Trump Fires Key Security Officials
2 MIN READ

Trump Fires Key Security Officials After Oval Office Meeting

Serbian Students Bike 130 Miles
1 MIN READ

Serbian Students Bike 130 Miles to EU Parliament Seeking Support

Iranian Judge Linked to 1988
1 MIN READ

Iranian Judge Linked to 1988 Executions Dies at 70

UN Alarmed by Reports of
1 MIN READ

UN Alarmed by Reports of Civilian Executions in Sudan

Mother and Daughter Found Shot
1 MIN READ

Mother and Daughter Found Shot Dead in Norway; Suspect Also Dead

Elon Musk to Stay as
1 MIN READ

Elon Musk to Stay as Advisor to Trump, Confirms JD Vance

Israeli Legal Experts Call for
1 MIN READ

Israeli Legal Experts Call for War Crimes Probe into Gaza Attack

EU Parliament Approves Delay in
1 MIN READ

EU Parliament Approves Delay in Key Sustainability Rules

Denmark Stands Firm on Sovereignty
2 MIN READ

Denmark Stands Firm on Sovereignty in Talks with US

Modi's New Law Fuels Discrimination
1 MIN READ

Modi's New Law Fuels Discrimination Concerns in India

Israel Probes Deadly Ambulance Shooting
1 MIN READ

Israel Probes Deadly Ambulance Shooting in Gaza Strip

California Wildfires Claim 30 Lives
1 MIN READ

California Wildfires Claim 30 Lives as Recovery Efforts Continue

Norovirus Hits Queen Mary 2
1 MIN READ

Norovirus Hits Queen Mary 2 Cruise, Over 240 Passengers Affected

Rubio Affirms US Commitment to
3 MIN READ

Rubio Affirms US Commitment to NATO, Calls for Increased Defense Spending

Bandidos European President Michael Rosenvold
1 MIN READ

Bandidos European President Michael Rosenvold Passes Away

Denmark Pledges Major Support Package
1 MIN READ

Denmark Pledges Major Support Package to Ukraine

Russia Not on US Tariff
2 MIN READ

Russia Not on US Tariff List Despite Broad Global Reach

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women
1 MIN READ

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women and Newborns, Says Save the Children

Tragedy Strikes as Boats Sink
1 MIN READ

Tragedy Strikes as Boats Sink Near Greece and Turkey, 16 Migrants Dead

Search for Missing MH370 Paused
1 MIN READ

Search for Missing MH370 Paused Until Year-End, Says Malaysia

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze
1 MIN READ

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze in Rome; Italy Boosts Security Measures

UN Envoy Urges Israel to
2 MIN READ

UN Envoy Urges Israel to Halt Strikes in Southern Syria

US Calls for UN Official's
1 MIN READ

US Calls for UN Official's Removal Over Alleged Anti-Semitic Views

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Meets US
1 MIN READ

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Meets US Officials in Washington for Talks