Hezbollah accuses Israel following pager explosions in Lebanon that resulted in nine deaths and thousands of injuries.
By newsnyork..
Hezbollah has blamed Israel for a series of pager explosions that killed nine people, including a child, and injured over 2,800 in Lebanon, according to the country's health minister. The blasts, which occurred in Beirut and other regions, targeted handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members. The group confirmed the deaths of eight fighters and described the incident as “criminal aggression,” pledging to seek “just retribution.”
The explosions came shortly after Israel’s security cabinet identified stopping Hezbollah attacks as a key objective amid ongoing hostilities since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7. Hezbollah has stated it will continue operations in support of Gaza, emphasizing that it remains committed to its actions against Israel. The UN has expressed concern over the escalating situation in Lebanon, highlighting its volatility.
Many Lebanese were in shock and disbelief on Tuesday evening, grappling with an unprecedented event in both scale and nature. Hezbollah reported that an unknown number of pagers—critical for their communications due to concerns over mobile phone security—exploded around 3:30 PM local time (12:30 GMT) in Beirut and several other locations.
Hours later, ambulances continued to rush to hospitals overwhelmed by casualties, with the health minister reporting that 200 individuals were in critical condition. Outside, anxious relatives awaited updates.
The LAU Medical Centre in Beirut's Ashrafieh district had closed its main gate and was restricting entry due to the sensitive situation. One staff member described the scenes as "horrific." Most injuries were concentrated around the waist, face, eyes, and hands, with many casualties suffering severe finger injuries.
The wife of Iranian ambassador Mojtaba Amani confirmed he was "slightly injured" but in stable condition at the hospital. Hezbollah’s media office reported the deaths of eight fighters but provided no details on their circumstances, stating only that they were "martyred on the road to Jerusalem." A source revealed that the son of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar and the 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member were among the deceased. Later reports indicated that the son of another lawmaker, Hassan Fadlallah, was wounded after initial reports of his death.
Additionally, fourteen people were injured in neighboring Syria due to similar explosions, where Hezbollah is fighting alongside government forces, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Hezbollah condemned the incident, holding Israel fully responsible for what it termed "criminal aggression." They vowed that the "treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly face just retribution." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati echoed this sentiment, labeling the explosions a “serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned what he called "Israeli terrorism." In response, the US, Israel's closest ally, denied any involvement and urged Iran to avoid escalating tensions.
**Hezbollah Blames Israel After Pager Explosions Kill Nine and Injure Thousands in Lebanon**
Nine people, including a child, were killed and approximately 2,800 were injured in a series of explosions caused by handheld pagers used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to the country’s health minister. Among the injured was Iran's ambassador to Lebanon.
Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of eight of its fighters and stated that the pagers belonged to its members. The group accused Israel of “criminal aggression” and vowed to seek retribution. The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident.
The explosions occurred just hours after Israel’s security cabinet announced its goal to prevent Hezbollah attacks to facilitate the return of displaced residents. Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, there have been near-daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border, with Hezbollah indicating its support for Hamas.
In a statement, Hezbollah reaffirmed its commitment to operations in support of Gaza, while the UN expressed concern over the escalating situation in Lebanon.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and horror following the explosions, which took place around 3:30 PM local time. Hospitals in Beirut were overwhelmed with casualties, many suffering severe injuries. Some reports suggest that the pagers, relied upon for secure communications, exploded simultaneously in multiple locations, including a supermarket.
Initial investigations indicate that the pagers might have been rigged with explosives, potentially using a signal to trigger the blasts. Experts noted that such incidents suggest a significant security breach, likely linked to ongoing cyber operations against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s leaders are now under pressure to respond forcefully, marking a potentially dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
A statement from the Israeli military on Tuesday evening did not address the pager explosions but indicated that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi conducted a situational assessment with commanders, focusing on readiness for both offensive and defensive operations. The military reiterated that there were no changes to defensive guidelines for the public but urged citizens to remain alert.
Earlier, the military reported that an airstrike had killed three Hezbollah operatives at a terrorist infrastructure site in the Blida area, near the Israeli border. Lebanon's health ministry confirmed these casualties, while Hezbollah's media office stated that it had launched missile and drone attacks against Israeli forces.
Additionally, Israel’s Shin Bet security service announced it had thwarted a Hezbollah bomb plot aimed at a former senior Israeli security official, though Hezbollah did not respond to this claim.
These developments occur as Israel's government signals an intent to escalate military efforts against Hezbollah. On Tuesday morning, the security cabinet set the safe return of 60,000 residents displaced by Hezbollah attacks as a priority in the ongoing conflict.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that military action was necessary to facilitate the return of northern residents, citing a diminishing possibility for a diplomatic resolution as Hezbollah remains aligned with Hamas.
Since hostilities intensified in October, the Lebanese health ministry reports at least 589 fatalities in Lebanon, primarily among Hezbollah fighters. In contrast, the Israeli government states that 25 civilians and 21 security personnel have been killed on the Israeli side.