Lebanon pager explosions/ Hezbollah pager attack/ Lebanon-Israel conflict pagers/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A series of explosions from handheld pagers killed at least eight people and injured over 2,700 in Lebanon and parts of Syria. The victims included members of Hezbollah and the Iranian ambassador. Lebanese officials blamed Israel for the coordinated attack, though the Israeli military has not commented. The incident has further heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
Exploding Pagers Kill 8 in Lebanon: Hezbollah Blames Israel Quick Looks:
- A coordinated explosion of handheld pagers killed at least eight and injured over 2,700 in Lebanon and Syria.
- Among the victims were Hezbollah members and the Iranian ambassador, who sustained minor injuries.
- Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have blamed Israel for the attack.
- The explosions come amid ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces near the Lebanon-Israel border.
Exploding Pagers in Lebanon and Syria Kill 8, Injure 2,700, Including Hezbollah Members
Deep Look:
At least eight people, including members of Hezbollah and a young girl, were killed on Tuesday after a coordinated wave of explosions rocked Lebanon and parts of Syria. The blasts, which originated from handheld pagers, left over 2,700 people wounded, 200 of them critically. The explosions targeted Hezbollah-controlled areas, including Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
The explosions have heightened suspicions of Israeli involvement, though the Israeli military has not commented on the incident. Hezbollah officials have blamed Israel, calling it a “security operation” aimed at targeting the militant group. According to a Hezbollah official, the devices that exploded were new pagers equipped with lithium batteries. The official stated that the batteries likely overheated and caused the blasts, though some Lebanese sources claim that more advanced technology was involved in detonating the pagers remotely.
The explosions occurred amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The two sides have been clashing regularly for nearly a year, with hundreds of fatalities reported on both sides. Tuesday’s incident follows a string of violent confrontations, including Israeli strikes against Hezbollah positions and attacks by Hezbollah against Israeli military targets.
The Lebanese government is urging the public to stay away from pagers, while hospitals in the affected regions are overwhelmed with patients. Blood donations are being sought, and Lebanon’s Health Ministry has called on all hospitals to prepare for more casualties.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has previously warned members not to use cellphones, citing concerns that Israel could track and target them using such devices. The explosions have drawn comparisons to past Israeli operations, including a 2010 cyberattack on Iran’s nuclear program using the Stuxnet virus, as well as Israel’s history of using booby-trapped devices to target militants.
The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in near-daily skirmishes.
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