Lebanon Hezbollah Blames Israel as Pager Explosions Injure Thousands
Hezbollah blames Israel for the attack and threatens a harsh response; Iran's ambassador is among the injured
Photo: Reuters / Houssam Shbaro
At least 3,000 people, most of them Hezbollah operatives, were injured yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, and over ten were killed in a series of explosions involving thousands of pagers, beepers, and personal communication devices held by individuals in the Dahiya district of southern Beirut, as well as other locations in Lebanon and Damascus. Among the injured is Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, who was injured in the same way, according to a report by the Iranian news agency MEHR.
Hezbollah attributes the action to Israel and threatens a severe response. Israel is on high alert, and last night the Chief of Staff convened a situational assessment. The IDF spokesperson announced no changes to the Home Front Command's instructions. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday, with Washington expressing concern about a broader escalation in the north. Meanwhile, there has been no change in Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans to travel to New York on Monday to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly session.
Israel has not commented on the action in Beirut. The Wall Street Journal reported that the devices that exploded were part of a shipment Hezbollah had recently received, and the devices were distributed to the organization's operatives and others.
A Reuters correspondent described dozens of ambulances rushing through Beirut, particularly in the southern suburbs, and scenes of panic and chaos among the city's residents. The wave of explosions lasted just over an hour, starting at 3:30 PM Lebanon time yesterday afternoon.
Lebanese television aired footage from security cameras inside a store, showing a person approaching the register to pay when the device in his hand suddenly exploded. In another shot, a man is seen injured by the explosion of his device while standing near a fruit and vegetable store in a market in Beirut.
The Lebanese Emergency Operations Center, managed by the Ministry of Health, ordered all its personnel to report to their stations to assist in treating the hundreds of injured, who were mostly wounded in the face, eyes, and limbs. The Lebanese Red Cross reported more than 50 ambulances and 300 medical personnel rushing to treat the injured immediately after the series of explosions.
The Associated Press reported that on Lebanese social media, injured individuals could be seen sitting or lying on the ground where they were wounded by the explosion of the device they were holding. The Lebanese Ministry of Health called on residents to dispose of pagers and instructed hospitals in the city to remain on high alert.
