BEIRUT, Lebanon – At least eight people were killed and over 2,700 injured after pagers belonging to Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
The Iran-backed militant group has accused Israel of orchestrating the explosions, although no direct evidence was provided to support the claim.
Israel has not responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
The explosions, which occurred simultaneously in various locations, have left more than 200 people in critical condition, Public Health Minister Firas Abiad reported during a news conference.
Among those injured was Mojtaba Amani, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, who sustained minor injuries, according to a statement from the Iranian embassy.
Hezbollah Blames Israel for “Coordinated Attack”
In a series of statements, Hezbollah pointed to Israel as the party responsible for the explosions, which reportedly targeted pagers distributed to members of the group.
These pagers, which Hezbollah members have used in place of mobile phones to avoid Israeli tracking, were allegedly rigged with explosives.
The blasts occurred a day after Israel announced a new war objective, raising fears of a potential military escalation.
“This dangerous and deliberate Israeli escalation… is accompanied by Israeli threats to expand the scope of the war towards Lebanon,” read a statement from Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry, which also announced plans to submit a complaint to the U.N. Security Council.
While Hezbollah claimed responsibility for its ongoing resistance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, it described Tuesday’s explosions as a serious breach of its security.
The group said that one of the victims of the blast was Muhammad Mahdi, the son of Hezbollah parliament member Ali Ammar.
U.S. and International Response
The U.S. State Department said it had no prior knowledge of the explosions and was “gathering information.”
Former CIA director John Brennan speculated that the pagers were intercepted and rigged with explosives, likely by Israeli operatives.
“All suspicion has to rest on Israel for being the responsible party,” Brennan said, adding that the attack was likely intended as a message to Hezbollah about Israel’s capabilities inside Lebanon.
The explosions come amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides engaged in cross-border clashes in recent months.
Israel has warned that military action may be the only way to address increasing hostilities with Hezbollah, a group formed in 1986 that has grown in power both politically and militarily within Lebanon.
Rising Tensions Along Israel-Lebanon Border
As tensions between Hezbollah and Israel continue to escalate, thousands of people have been displaced from both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border due to ongoing conflict.
The fighting, which intensified following Hamas-led attacks in Israel in October, has expanded into other regions, with Hezbollah vowing to continue attacks until Israel’s offensive in Gaza ends.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced updates to Israel’s war objectives, which include ensuring the safe return of residents displaced from their homes near the northern border.
International diplomats, including officials from the U.S. and France, have been attempting to broker peace between Hezbollah and Israel, with hopes of preventing the conflict in Gaza from spreading further.
