Lebanon⁤ in Panic: Mobile Phones Abandoned⁣ Amid Pager and Walkie-Talkie ⁣Attacks

People in Beirut‍ are abandoning their mobile phones in ​panic over pager and ​walkie-talkie ‍attacks ⁤by‍ Israel targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Lebanese Aviation Department has banned the ‍carrying of pagers and⁣ walkie-talkies on flights. The Lebanese Armed Forces have begun destroying wireless sites.

Manufacturer Denies Bomb Planting Claims

The Japanese company Icom, manufacturer ‍of the walkie-talkies, said that it was not ‍possible to plant a ‌bomb in the walkie-talkie⁢ during the construction phase. Construction is fast‍ in a highly automatic system. ICOM director Yoshiki Inamoto stated⁤ at⁢ the company’s headquarters in Osaka that there was ⁣no way to put​ the ‌bomb inside. The ​company said it had stopped producing the model ⁣that exploded in Lebanon a decade ago.

Investigation Launched ⁤into Pager Explosion

Bulgaria has opened an investigation against a company in ⁤connection ​with​ the Pager explosion. Bulgarian media reported that ⁤Norta Global Ltd. of Sofia provided‍ the⁢ callers that‍ exploded in Lebanon, but the government statement did not name the company. Gold‍ Apollo callers from Taiwan were ‍said to have⁣ been manufactured by Budapest-based​ Bak ‌Consulting. However, there are media reports that ⁤the sale was made by Norta.

Plot to Assassinate Israeli Leaders Foiled

Security agencies have revealed that ⁤an Israeli citizen has been arrested in connection with an Iranian ​plot to⁢ assassinate top leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A businessman with Turkish connections ⁤was arrested ​last week.

The plan was to assassinate the Prime Minister, the‌ Minister of Defense, and the ‍head of⁣ the Internal Intelligence Agency. The⁤ arrested person took part in two⁢ meetings ⁤held‍ in Tehran. Israel also said they discovered ⁤a Hezbollah ‍plot to‌ assassinate former Defense Minister Masho Ya’alon.