Emergency responders are seen as smoke rises from a cell phone store after an explosion in Sidon, Lebanon, Sept. 18, 2024. Reuters

A source close to Lebanon's Hezbollah group said walkie talkies used by group members exploded in its Beirut stronghold on Wednesday, with state media reporting similar blasts of pagers and "devices" in east and south Lebanon. The reports came a day after thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah members exploded nearly simultaneously, killing at least 12 people including two children, according to Lebanon's public health minister.

"A number of walkie talkies exploded in Beirut's southern suburbs," the source said, with Hezbollah-affiliated rescuers confirming devices had exploded inside two cars in the area.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said pagers and "devices" had also exploded in Hezbollah strongholds in the east and south, with AFP correspondents also reporting hearing explosions.

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