More than 1,000 people, including Hezbollah fighters and medics, were wounded on Tuesday when pagers used for communication exploded across Lebanon, security sources reported to Reuters.
Iran’s ambassador in Lebanon has been wounded in the explosion of pagers in the country, Iranian news reports Associated Press.
A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the detonations as the “biggest security breach” the group has faced during nearly a year of cross-border warfare with Israel. The conflict escalated following the Gaza war in October, marking the worst violence in the region in years.
The Israeli military declined to comment on inquiries about the explosions. However, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was injured by one of the blasts. This report could not be immediately confirmed.
Widespread panic gripped Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, as ambulances rushed to affected areas. A Reuters journalist witnessed people with bloodied hands arriving at emergency rooms, particularly in Mt. Lebanon hospital.
Hassan Wazni, head of Nabatieh public hospital in southern Lebanon, stated that around 40 injured people were being treated for facial, eye, and limb injuries.
The explosions began around 3.45 pm local time (1345 GMT) and lasted about an hour. It remains unclear how the devices were detonated.
Lebanese security forces confirmed that several wireless communication devices were detonated, with most incidents occurring in Beirut’s southern suburbs. CCTV footage aired by regional broadcasters showed handheld devices exploding in public places, including near a grocery store and a fruit stand.
In response to the crisis, Lebanon’s health ministry mobilized medical workers to treat the influx of wounded patients and advised them against using pagers. The Lebanese Red Cross dispatched over 50 ambulances and 300 emergency medical staff to assist in evacuations and care.
The ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, ignited by the October 7 Hamas attacks, have caused significant displacement along both sides of the border, though both parties have thus far avoided a major escalation.
(With agency inputs)