‘Crime By All Standards’: Lebanon Blames Israel For Hezbollah Pager Explosions | Updates –

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has accused Israel of being behind the pager explosions that took place on Tuesday, which resulted in nine deaths and around 2,800 injuries across the country.

In a cabinet meeting, Mikati described the attack as a “serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by all standards,” as per state-run NNA news outlet.

Hundreds of handheld pagers mysteriously exploded across Lebanon and parts of Syria on Tuesday.

The blasts “killed nine people, including a girl,” Lebanese Minister Firass Abiad said in an update. “About 2,800 people were injured, about 200 of them critically,” he added, noting that most injuries were to the face, hands, and stomach.

Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, was also injured in the pager blast in Beirut. He is said to be “conscious and in no danger.”

US says ‘not involved’ and ‘not aware’

The United States has stated it had no prior knowledge of, or involvement in, the pager explosions targeting Hezbollah.

“I can tell you that the US was not involved in it, the US was not aware of this incident in advance and, at this point, we’re gathering information,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told the media.

When and where did the blasts took place?

The detonations began around 3:30 p.m. local time and occurred in southern Lebanon, including the Hezbollah strongholds in the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

The explosions lasted for about an hour, with witnesses and residents of Dahiyeh reporting that they continued to hear blasts until around 4:30 p.m. local time, Reuters reported.

According to reports, some of the explosions occurred after the pagers rang, leading fighters to either hold the devices or bring them close to their faces to check the screen.

Videos and photos circulating on social media appear to show wounded individuals sitting or lying on the floor, while others are being rushed to hospitals.

CCTV footage shared by the Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik shows a man inside a store with a sudden explosion from a side bag he was carrying. He collapses to the floor immediately after the blast, while others in the store panic and flee.

Exploded pagers were newly acquired by Hezbollah

The pagers that exploded had recently been acquired by Hezbollah after the group’s leader ordered members to stop using cellphones, citing concerns they could be tracked by Israeli intelligence.

A Hezbollah official told The Associated Press that the pagers were a new brand the group had not used before.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had earlier warned members against carrying cellphones, stating that they could be used by Israel to monitor their movements and carry out targeted strikes.

Meanwhile, pictures of the destroyed pagers, analysed by Reuters, showed a format and stickers consistent with those produced by Gold Apollo, a Taiwan-based pager manufacturer.

What caused the pager to explode?

Hezbollah announced that it is conducting a “security and scientific investigation” into the cause of the explosions.

Diplomatic and security sources have speculated that the detonations might have been triggered by the devices’ batteries overheating and exploding.

‘High alert’

In a statement, the health ministry urged “all hospitals in areas near the locations of the injured to be on high alert and increase their level of preparedness,” and called for “all health workers to urgently report to their workplaces” to provide assistance.

The Lebanese Red Cross said it was on “high alert” in a statement shared on X. “More than 30 Ambulances from the #LebaneseRedCross are responding to multiple bombings across South Lebanon, Bekaa Valley and the Southern Suburbs of Beirut . All our stations across Mount Lebanon and Beirut are on high alert!,” the post read.

‘Biggest security breach’

A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the pager detonations as the “biggest security breach” the group has faced in nearly a year of conflict with Israel, as per news agency Reuters.

The agency also reported that one of its journalists witnessed ambulances rushing through the southern suburbs of Beirut amid widespread panic. Residents reported explosions occurring even 30 minutes after the initial blasts.

The journalist noted that groups of people gathered at building entrances, checking on acquaintances who might have been injured.

Attack amid tensions with Israel

The incident also came hours after Israel’s security cabinet made the safe return of 60,000 residents displaced in the north by Hezbollah attacks an official war goal, according to the BBC.

“The security cabinet has updated the objectives of the war to include the following: Returning the residents of the north securely to their homes,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. “Israel will continue to act to implement this objective.”

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned the group’s members not to carry cellphones, citing concerns that they could be used by Israel to track their movements and carry out targeted strikes.

(With inputs from agencies)