Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel after accusing it of causing pager explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday. These explosions killed at least eight people and injured nearly 3,000, including fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut. Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the explosions, calling them an “Israeli aggression.” Hezbollah stated that Israel would face consequences for the blasts.
The Israeli military, which has been involved in cross-border fighting with Hezbollah since the Gaza war began in October, did not comment on the detonations.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported that eight people were killed and 2,750 were injured in the explosions, with 200 in critical condition. Hezbollah confirmed that the dead included at least two of its fighters and a young girl.
The explosions occurred in southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh), and the eastern Bekaa Valley, all areas controlled by Hezbollah. Surveillance footage showed a pager exploding next to a cashier in a grocery store.
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A Hezbollah official described the incident as the group’s “biggest security breach” in nearly a year of conflict with Israel.
Hamas, which is also fighting Israel in Gaza, called the pager explosions an “escalation” that would lead to Israel’s “failure and defeat.” The U.S. State Department said it was too early to determine how these attacks might affect efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and urged Iran and its allies to exercise restraint.
