Lebanon has issued a ban on carrying wireless communication devices, including pagers and walkie-talkies, on airplanes following a series of deadly explosions.
The decision, announced on Thursday, was made to enhance security in response to recent attacks involving these devices.
According to the National News Agency, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has circulated a directive to all airlines operating out of Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, prohibiting the transportation of pagers and walkie-talkies on flights.
The ban applies to both carry-on luggage and checked baggage, as well as air cargo shipments.
The directive states, “All airlines operating at Rafic Hariri Beirut International Airport must inform departing passengers that, until further notice, no pager or walkie-talkie devices are allowed on board the aircraft. These items will be confiscated by airport security units if discovered.”
This decision comes in the wake of a series of explosions caused by wireless communication devices earlier this week.
On Tuesday, multiple incidents involving pagers occurred in several regions of Lebanon, particularly in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in areas to the east and south of the country. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 12 people and left approximately 2,800 others injured.
The violence escalated on Wednesday, when new explosions involving walkie-talkies were reported across Lebanon, leading to 20 more fatalities and over 450 injuries. The attacks have raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of wireless devices for terrorist activities or other criminal purposes.