Hezbollah blames Israel for deadly pager explosions in Lebanon

A series of mysterious explosions involving handheld pagers used by Hezbollah fighters has left nine people dead, including a child, and injured nearly 3,000 across Lebanon.

The blasts, which occurred simultaneously in Beirut and other regions, have sparked a wave of shock and confusion, with Hezbollah blaming Israel for what it calls “criminal aggression.”

The explosions, which occurred at 3:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, killed eight Hezbollah fighters, according to the group’s media office. Among the wounded was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, who was hospitalized with minor injuries. Lebanon’s Health Minister confirmed that over 200 people were in critical condition, with injuries primarily to the waist, face, eyes, and hands. “A lot of casualties have lost fingers, in some cases all of them,” a staff member at the LAU Medical Centre in Beirut said, describing the chaotic scenes at overwhelmed hospitals.

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Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, said the pagers that exploded were used by its members for communication. The group frequently relies on such devices to avoid the risks associated with mobile phones, which can be tracked or hacked. In a statement, Hezbollah accused Israel of orchestrating the explosions, warning that “this treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly get his just retribution on this sinful aggression from where it counts and from where it does not count.”

Israel, which declined to comment on Hezbollah’s allegations, has been engaged in almost daily exchanges of fire with the group along the Israel-Lebanon border since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on October 7. Hezbollah has been vocal about its support for Hamas, escalating its operations in what it calls an effort to aid the Palestinian cause.

The explosion of pagers across multiple regions is unprecedented, and speculation is rife about the cause. Some experts have suggested that the devices could have been sabotaged or rigged with explosives. A former British Army munitions expert, speaking anonymously, told the BBC that it was likely the pagers had been packed with military-grade explosives and armed via a signal or message, causing them to detonate when used.

There are also suspicions that the blasts might be linked to Israel’s ongoing cyber warfare against Hezbollah. Middle East analyst Lina Khatib of Chatham House said, “Israel has been engaging in cyber operations against Hezbollah for several months, but this security breach is the largest in scale.” Nicholas Blanford of the Atlantic Council added, “Israel in one fell swoop has rendered combat ineffective hundreds if not thousands of Hezbollah fighters, in some cases permanently.”

As Lebanon grapples with the aftermath of the explosions, the situation at the border remains tense. The Israeli military confirmed earlier in the day that an airstrike had killed three Hezbollah fighters near the border, while Hezbollah continued to launch missile and drone attacks on Israeli military positions. Israel’s security cabinet has made the removal of Hezbollah forces from its northern border a priority, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasizing that military action is the only way to ensure the safe return of displaced Israeli residents.

With Hezbollah facing immense pressure from within its ranks to retaliate, the coming days could mark a dangerous escalation in the Israel-Lebanon conflict. The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation, warning of the volatile context in which these events are unfolding.