A series of catastrophic explosions involving handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members has killed nine people, including a child, and injured almost 3,000 across Lebanon.
The blasts, which occurred simultaneously in Beirut and several other regions, have sent shockwaves through the country and drawn international attention.
The Lebanese Health Minister confirmed the explosions, which happened around 3:30 pm local time, were linked to pagers used by Hezbollah.
The group reported the deaths of eight of its fighters and accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks. Hezbollah vowed to seek, “just retribution”, although the Israeli military has declined to comment on the accusations.
Among the injured is Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, who sustained minor injuries and is currently hospitalised. The explosions have overwhelmed hospitals in Beirut, with many casualties suffering severe injuries, including lost fingers and facial wounds.
One video circulating social media from inside a supermarket showed an explosion in a man’s bag, causing immediate panic and injuries among shoppers. The explosions also resulted in injuries in Syria, where Hezbollah is active, with 14 people reported hurt.
Hezbollah has accused Israel of conducting “criminal aggression”, while Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the explosions as a serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty.
The explosions come following ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, further complicated by recent hostilities involving Hamas in Gaza.
Hezbollah has not yet specified the exact cause of the explosions but has suggested that overheating lithium-ion batteries or possible sabotage might be factors.
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