Qatar Airways bans passengers from carrying pagers, walkie-talkies on Lebanon flights

DOHA: Qatar Airways has prohibited all passengers flying from Beirut Rafic Harirl International Airport (BEY) from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on board flights. The airline said that the restriction applies to checked and carry-on luggage, as well as cargo, and will be enforced until further notice.

In a post on X, Qatar Airways stated, “Effective immediately: Following the directive received from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Republic of Lebanon, all passengers flying from Beirut Rafic Harirl International Airport (BEY) are prohibited from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on board flights. The ban applies to both checked and carry-on luggage, as well as cargo, and will be enforced until further notice”.

Effective immediately: Following the directive received from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Republic of Lebanon, all passengers flying from Beirut Rafic Harirl International Airport (BEY) are prohibited from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on board flights.…

— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) September 19, 2024

The action follows walkie-talkies and pager explosions in Lebanon that resulted in devastating consequences. In the latest attacks on Wednesday, at least 20 people lost their lives and over 450 were injured in Lebanon , authorities said, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The latest attack came just a day after 12 people were killed and more than 2800 others were wounded in a coordinated explosion of pagers in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday announced that it had launched targeted strikes against Hezbollah terrorist capabilities and infrastructure in Lebanon, aiming to bring security to northern Israel to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals.

In a post on X, the IDF stated, “The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields–having turned southern Lebanon into a war zone. The IDF is operating to bring security to northern Israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals”.

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared the start of a “new phase” in the war and asserted that the focus is now on the northern arena. Sharing a post on X, Gallant said, “We are at the start of a new phase in the war — we are allocating resources and forces to the northern arena and our mission is clear: ensuring the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes. To do so, the security situation must be changed”.

On Wednesday, dozens of ambulance crews from the Lebanese Red Cross worked to rescue and evacuate those who were wounded after walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon, according to the CNN report. (ANI)