Hezbollah Pager Blasts Rock Lebanon: 9 Dead, 2,800 Injured as Regional Tensions Soar
Staff Editor Nine Killed as Hezbollah Pagers Explode Across Lebanon
In a shocking turn of events, nine people, including a child, were killed when handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members unexpectedly exploded across Lebanon on Thursday. The simultaneous blasts in Beirut and other regions also left approximately 2,800 people wounded, including Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon.
Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of eight fighters and accused Israel of “criminal aggression.” The Israeli military, however, has declined to comment on the incident.
The explosions occurred around 15:30 local time, with CCTV footage showing one explosion in a man’s bag or pocket at a supermarket. Hospitals were quickly overwhelmed with casualties, with 200 reported to be in critical condition. The LAU Medical Centre in Beirut limited access due to the sensitivity of the situation and horrific scenes.
A source close to Hezbollah reported that among the casualties were the son of MP Ali Ammar and a 10-year-old girl. Additionally, fourteen people were wounded by exploding pagers in neighboring Syria.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi both condemned Israel for the incident. The United States, however, denied any involvement and urged Iran not to escalate tensions.
While Hezbollah has not specified the cause of the pager explosions, experts suggest the devices may have been packed with military-grade explosives, triggered by alphanumeric text messages. The Wall Street Journal reported that Hezbollah had recently received a new shipment of pagers.
In response to the incident, Israel’s security cabinet has declared stopping Hezbollah attacks an official war goal. The situation remains tense, with daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
As the region grapples with this unprecedented event, the UN spokesman has expressed concern over the volatile situation in Lebanon. The Lebanese public remains in shock and disbelief as investigations into the incident continue.
