Hospitals inundated with the injured after Lebanon pager explosions

Hospitals across Beirut appeared overwhelmed after pagers used by hundreds of members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing 12 and injuring nearly 3,000.

Lebanon’s health minister Firas Abiad noted that two-thirds of the injured required hospitalisation, with the scale of the incident surpassing even the aftermath of the massive 2020 Beirut Port explosion, where thousands were injured. Most of the wounded were from Beirut and its southern suburbs, the minister added.

“The hospital response was good and most importantly, we were able to get care to those who needed it, especially for those with serious injuries,” Abiad stated during a press conference on Wednesday, highlighting the low number of fatalities compared to injuries.

Abiad stated that over 2,700 people were being treated at 20 hospitals across Lebanon following the blasts, with around 300 in critical condition. More than 400 surgeries were performed, with most cases involving facial and eye injuries.

“Yesterday was a very big test. Could we be going towards bigger tests? I don’t know,” he added.

The attacks have thrown Beirut into turmoil, with Hezbollah calling it the “largest security breach” the group has faced in nearly a year of conflict with Israel. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has accused Israel of being behind the pager explosions, devices Hezbollah heavily relies on for communication.

Families of victims who were injured on Monday by their exploding handheld pagers, wait at the emergency entrance of the American University hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Hospitals were seen crowded, with entrances full of patients and their relatives in search of treatment and blood donations. According to reports, army has taken control of hospital entrances, and families of patients have been barred from entering as tensions escalate, The National reported.

Some Hezbollah fighters, injured in Syria, are reportedly receiving treatment in Damascus hospitals, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have confirmed casualties among their ranks.

The blasts, which appeared to exploit Hezbollah’s low-tech pager communication system, mark one of the most significant security breaches the group has faced during its ongoing conflict with Israel. Hezbollah officials, accusing Israel of responsibility for the attacks, have vowed retaliation, calling for a “just punishment.” Two Hezbollah fighters and the son of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar were among the dead, along with other prominent members’ sons, The Guardian reported.

Lebanese Red Cross ambulance passes next of the families of victims who were injured on Monday by their exploding handheld pagers, at the emergency entrance of the American University hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Israel has not commented on the incident, which occurred shortly after the country announced plans to expand its military objectives in the war that began following Hamas’s October 7 attacks, now including Hezbollah as a target. This follows months of targeted assassinations of Hezbollah leaders by Israel.

Hospitals throughout Lebanon have been put on “maximum alert,” with citizens warned to avoid wireless communication devices. Hezbollah’s own separate communication network remains in operation.

US officials are currently attempting to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, but the attack threatens to disrupt these efforts. The US government has denied any involvement in the incident, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stating it is “too early to say” how this will affect ceasefire talks in Gaza.

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