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Tehran, Iran
Weeks after Israel allegedly hit Lebanon with pager attacks, Iran on Saturday (Oct 12) banned pagers and walkie-talkies on all flights, local media reported.
"The entry of any electronic communication device, except mobile phones, in flight cabins or...in non-accompanied cargo, has been banned," ISNA news agency reported, citing the spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation Jafar Yazerlo.
This comes three weeks after pagers and walkie-talkies were allegedly used to attack Lebanon, targeting members of the Iran-allied Hezbollah group. The attack claimed the lives of at least 39 people.
Meanwhile, nearly 3,000 people were injured in the attack, which Iran and Hezbollah blamed on Israel, including Tehran's ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani.
Dubai-based airline banned pagers, walkie-talkies
Earlier this month, Dubai-based airline Emirates also banned pagers and walkie-talkies on board its planes.
Tensions in West Asia have increased in the past weeks, which started after the Hamas militant group attacked Israel in October last year, which further led to conflict with Iran's proxies including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Also read: Explained: How were the deadly Hezbollah pager explosions carried out in Lebanon?
Iran hit Israel with some 200 ballistic missiles to retaliate against the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader. Following this, Israel has vowed to retaliate.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that the response will be "deadly, precise, and surprising".
IDF tells 22 Lebanon villages to evacuate
Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered the residents of 22 south Lebanon villages to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River.
It further warned the residents “not to return” to their homes as troops continue fighting Hezbollah in the area.
'Do not return to your homes': IDF warns
Israeli forces continue to “target Hezbollah posts in or near your villages,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X. He added, “For your own protection, do not return to your homes until further notice. Do not go south; anyone who goes south may put his life at risk.”
UN peacekeepers warn against 'catastrophic' regional conflict
A spokesperson for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon said that he feared an Israeli escalation against Hezbollah in the country’s south could soon be triggered out of control.
Watch | Lebanon's Pager Blast: Pagers detonate across Lebanon, wounding nearly 3,000
This risks “turning very soon into a regional conflict with catastrophic impact for everyone,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told news agency AFP. He further called for a diplomatic solution.
No food entered in northern Gaza: UN
Earlier today, the United Nations food agency said that no food aid had entered northern Gaza since October 1, the Guardian reported citing the Associated Press.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said that the primary border crossing into the war-ravaged area had been closed for about two weeks and warned that Israel’s ongoing ground operation has impacted disastrously on food security for thousands of Palestinian families.
Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)