Pager blasts in Lebanon blatant crime against civilians: experts

The explosions of pagers and handheld radios across Lebanon are a targeted crime against civilians, said Lebanese experts in interviews.

The death toll in explosions targeting pagers and handheld radios across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday has risen to 37, whereas the injuries came at 2,931, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said Thursday.

During interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), experts and officials condemned the attack, calling it a blatant act of aggression.

"This is an established and committed crime, about which there is no dispute, and there is no analysis, either technical or scientific, of the presence of explosive materials inside these devices. If it had been a technical error, the explosion would have occurred in a single device, but the simultaneous explosion of some 5,000 devices proves the presence of an element inside the device that caused these beepers to explode. This has caused physical damage to civilians that could result in permanent disabilities in their daily lives. What I want to express is, imagine 4,000 people disabled as a result of these explosions," said Mohamed Ataoui, a telecommunication and information expert.

"This case is not considered a military or security action against a military entity, as this device is used by the general public in Lebanon, doctors, engineers and hospital staff, among others. This attack is therefore an attack on the civilian apparatus in general. Of course, there are also Hezbollah elements who use them, but for civilian, not military activities. Therefore, this issue is considered a blatant aggression and massacre against civilians," said Abdou El-Keis, a regional affairs analyst.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have been escalating since Oct 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of Hamas. Israel retaliated with artillery fire into southeastern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, and Hezbollah claimed its attacks have inflicted casualties in Israel.

The recent explosions add a new layer to the ongoing 11-month clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, marked by deadly Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel.

Speaking to Israeli troops on Wednesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel has entered a "new phase" in its conflict with Hezbollah.

No Israeli officials, including Gallant, have claimed responsibility for the explosions, which Hezbollah attributed to Israel.

Pager blasts in Lebanon blatant crime against civilians: experts

Pager blasts in Lebanon blatant crime against civilians: experts

Various celebrations are being staged across China in anticipation of the fast-approaching New Year's Day and the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, or Spring Festival, boosting the market for related goods as more revelers get into the festive spirit.

In Beijing, more than 1,000 lanterns themed around fashion and technology are offering a colorful display in the city's Wenyuhe Park, making it one of the largest lantern festivals in the city this year.

In Shanghai, business districts have launched a series of themed decorations, exhibitions, performances, and interactive activities. Local authorities have also distributed consumption coupons, further stimulating consumer spending during the New Year's Day holiday, which falls on Wednesday.

In the nearby city of Hangzhou in the eastern Zhejiang Province, several promotional activities have been introduced to boost consumption. Additionally, business areas and shopping streets have been upgraded to meet the consumer demand for high-quality goods.

Special Spring Festival fairs have also been set up across the country as Chinese people gear up for their largest annual celebration around the Chinese New Year, which lands at the end of January in 2025.

In Huaiyuan County of east China's Anhui Province, a local fair is attracting visitors with a variety of well-known agricultural products. In Zhangzhou City of the coastal Fujian Province, a one-stop feature fair allows both visitors and locals to purchase a wide range of items.

Meanwhile, in northeast China's Jilin Province, local authorities in the city of Ji'an have sought to take advantage of the snowy conditions by integrating winter sports, offering visitors the chance to enjoy a range of snow and ice activities while shopping for Spring Festival goods.

Additionally, flowers are in high demand at many marketplaces across China as more people look to prepare some floral decorations as part of the celebrations.

In Kunming of southwest China's Yunnan Province, a special flower street featuring Chinese New Year flowers has been set up, where over 15,000 flowers are available, including more than 120 varieties of orchids.

Local flower markets area also in full bloom in various other places, from the northern cities of Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan to Hetian in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, all offering a wide variety of creative and unique flowers, which have been well received by residents.

New Year celebrations help boost market for festive goods