Lebanon explosions creates issues for device manufacturers

BEIRUT: In the wake of recent explosions involving electronic devices in Lebanon, the situation escalated into a complex crisis.

The founder of Taiwanese wireless company “Gold Apollo” stated that the pagers involved in the explosions were not manufactured by the company.

The explosions have so far killed at least 20, with 450 others injured. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the death toll from the small blasts, which occurred in Beirut. This has raised fears of retaliation and further violence in the region.

Read more: Exploding Hezbollah pagers: How did it happen?

The founder of Gold Apollo was quick to say that he his company had the right to use the tradesmark of the European company that manufactured the pagers.

His statement comes amidst rising speculation regarding the origins of the devices used in the explosions.

In response, the Israeli Cabinet authorised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to launch military strikes against Hezbollah in the Kolbanan reigon.

Israeli military officials have indicated that they possess ‘capabilities’ that have yet to be activated.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army has begun destroying the walkie-talkie devices in a bid to mitigate further damage. Controlled explosions were carried out outside the American University of Beirut Medical Center as part of the efforts.

The Lebanese government said it was taking all measures to address the fallout from the explosions while managing the heightened tensions with Israel

International reactions have poured in, with the Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan  condemning the explosions.

The Turkish president stated that efforts to intimate Israel will persist. Erdogan expressed full solidarity with Lebanon following the blasts, saying they were an affront to the country’s sovereignty.

Similarity, the Egyptian Foreign Minister echoed similar sentiments, stating that the incident violate Lebanon’s sovereignty.  .

The European Union (EU) also condemned the civilian deaths resulting from the airstrike, with the bloc describing the situation as “very alarming”.

The  EU ‘called’ for ‘accountability’ and expressed ‘concerns’ over the pager explosions, calling for a “thorough investigation”.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (N) scheduled a Security Council meeting for Friday to address the escalating crisis in Lebanon.

Read more: White House warns of increased tensions in the Middle East

The Iranian president criticised the situation, stating that the explosions should serve as a source of shame for Israel’s allies, while accusing the United States (US) and Western nations of fully surprising Israel war crimes and other illegal actions.

For its part, the US was quick to deny any part in the matter, with the White House spokesperson John Kirby firmly stating his country was not involved.