Pagers and walkie-talkies ban at Beirut airport

The Lebanese civilian aviation directorate issued a statement on Thursday calling on "all companies, institutions and investors working at Beirut international airport to inform all their employees that it is now forbidden, until further notice, to bring any type of pagers or walkie-talkie [Icom, VC or V82 brand] into all airport buildings and areas."

The ban also includes baggage and cargo compartments on aircraft. The General Security at the airport will confiscate these devices, the statement added. Such devices were also banned from being shipped by air, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The decision follows the unprecedented Tuesday and Wednesday attacks in which pagers, walkie-talkies and other devices were detonated, targeting Hezbollah members using those telecommunication means. 

At least 37 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured in two waves of attacks. Lebanon and Hezbollah claim that Israel is behind these attacks.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for these operations.

The Lebanese army said on Thursday that it was detonating suspicious pagers and telecommunications devices in "controlled blasts" in various parts of the country. It called also called on citizens to report any suspicious devices.

Hezbollah and Israel have been clashing on the Lebanese-Israeli border since Oct. 8, 2023, one day after the start of the Gaza war.