Emirates bans communication devices following Hezbollah explosions

Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, has issued a ban on passengers carrying pagers and walkie-talkies following a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon in mid-September, attributed to Israel in an attack targeting Hezbollah. 

The airline's decision comes as a security measure amid escalating tensions in the region.

In a statement released on Friday, Emirates announced, “All passengers traveling to, from, or through Dubai (where the airline is based) are prohibited from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies in their luggage or onboard.”

On September 17, simultaneous explosions involving pagers used by Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian Lebanese Islamist group, resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries in Lebanon. 

The devices were reportedly used for communication by Hezbollah and detonated in a coordinated attack. These pagers and walkie-talkies allow users to send and receive messages using their own radio frequency, outside of mobile networks, making them less susceptible to surveillance.

In addition to the ban, Emirates has extended its suspension of flights to Iran and Iraq until Tuesday. This suspension has been in place since the Iranian missile attack on Israel earlier in the week. 

The airline also announced that flights to Lebanon will remain suspended until October 15, as Israeli airstrikes continue in the country.