Hezbollah members among 8 dead, 2,750 wounded in pager blasts across Lebanon

At least eight people, including members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, were killed and 2,750 others wounded on Tuesday when communication pagers exploded in Beirut’s suburbs and other parts of Lebanon, country’s health minister Firass Abiad said.

The incident, described by a Hezbollah official as the “biggest security breach” in nearly a year of conflict with Israel, has sparked widespread panic and confusion. The millitant group has blamed Israel for the pager blasts, saying it will get “its fair punishment”.

The explosions come amidst the ongoing violence between Hezbollah and Israel, which has intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza war last October. The situation remains fluid, with reports of further detonations in southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut.

Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was injured in one of the explosions, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.

There has been no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding the explosions.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, in a statement said that it was carrying out an investigation to determine the causes of the blasts.

A Reuters journalist reported ambulances racing through the southern suburbs of Beirut, with widespread panic gripping the area. Residents recalled that explosions continued even 30 minutes after the initial blasts.

Groups of people gathered outside buildings, checking on those who might have been injured. Regional CCTV footage showed small handheld devices exploding in various locations, including a grocery store and a market.

Lebanon’s crisis operations center, managed by the health ministry, has urged all medical personnel to report to hospitals to handle the influx of wounded. The wounds included injuries to the face, eyes and limbs. The center has also advised healthcare workers to refrain from using pagers to avoid further incidents.

Hezbollah’s missile attacks on Israel began shortly after the October 7 Hamas assaults, with both sides exchanging fire while trying to avoid a full-scale escalation. The ongoing conflict has displaced tens of thousands from towns and villages on both sides of the border.

– With agency inputs

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