Qatar Airways announced yesterday Thursday that – based on the directives of the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority – it would prevent passengers at Beirut airport from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on board its planes until further notice.
The national airline of the State of Qatar wrote on the “X” platform: “Based on the directives issued by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Lebanese Republic, all travelers arriving from Beirut from Rafic Hariri International Airport are prohibited from carrying with them a pager or a walkie-talkie device on board the aircraft.
Qatar Airways added: “The ban applies to both checked and hand baggage, as well as air cargo, and will be enforced until further notice.”
Beirut – In accordance with the directives issued by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Lebanese Republic, all passengers traveling from Beirut to Rafic Hariri International Airport are prohibited from carrying a pager or walkie-talkie on board the aircraft.
The ban applies to both checked and carry-on baggage, as well as air cargo, and…
– Qatar Airways (@qatarairwaysar) September 19, 2024
The Lebanese General Directorate of Civil Aviation had asked, in a circular, airlines operating at Beirut airport to “inform all passengers leaving the airport that, until further notice, it is forbidden to carry on board any pager or walkie-talkie device. aircraft, whether in the suitcase or hand luggage, as well as by air cargo.
At least 37 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in Lebanon following the explosion of pager communications on Tuesday and then wireless communication devices on Wednesday used by Hezbollah members, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The devices exploded while users were shopping in stores, walking in the streets and attending funerals, causing panic in the country.
Israel has not commented on the bombings that came a day after it announced that it was expanding the objectives of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip to include securing the northern border area with Lebanon, so as to ensure the return of the Israeli population to it. However, several security sources said that Israeli intelligence (Mossad) may have been carried out because this device has a history of launching similar attacks.
The communications equipment explosions come amid a daily exchange of bombings between Hezbollah and Israel since the latter launched its devastating war in the Gaza Strip more than 11 months ago. The party says the cross-border bombing operations serve as a “support front” for Gaza.