Hezbollah and Allies Caught Off Guard by Surge of Exploding Pagers

BEIRUT — A series of simultaneous explosions from pagers belonging to Hezbollah members erupted on Tuesday, resulting in at least nine fatalities, including an 8-year-old girl, and injuring approximately 2,750 others. This attack, attributed to a sophisticated operation allegedly orchestrated by Israel, has heightened tensions between the militant group and the Israeli military amid ongoing regional conflict.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was among the wounded. The blasts occurred during a busy afternoon as civilians shopped and traveled in areas with a significant Hezbollah presence, such as southern Beirut and eastern Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley. Initial reports indicate that most victims were linked to Hezbollah, although it remains unclear how many civilians were affected.

The detonations targeted pagers ordered by Hezbollah’s leader, who had previously instructed members to abandon cellphones for security reasons. A Hezbollah official revealed that while these devices were newly acquired, specifics regarding their deployment were scarce. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as the pagers heated up and exploded, sending shrapnel into nearby crowds.

The nature of the explosive devices suggests a well-orchestrated plan likely involving infiltration of the supply chain, enabling the explosives to be rigged before delivery. Analysts believe the pager blasts reflected a calculated strategy to inflict widespread harm.

At local hospitals, medical staff received a wave of injured individuals, many suffering severe injuries including amputations and disfigurements. The Lebanese Health Minister reported critical injuries affecting approximately 200 individuals, compounding the tragedy of the event.

Hezbollah responded to the blasts with statements blaming Israel, asserting that the group would hold the Israeli government accountable for the attack. In contrast, the Israeli military refrained from commenting on the incident. Hours before the explosions, Israel’s security agency reported foiling a separate Hezbollah assassination plot targeting an Israeli official.

The U.S. State Department indicated it was gathering information on the explosions, denying any prior knowledge or involvement in the attack. Observers noted that the complexity of the operation raises significant concerns regarding Hezbollah’s security vulnerabilities in light of ongoing Israeli threats.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, condemned the attack, emphasizing the dangerous escalation of hostilities in an already unstable region. As Israel shifts its focus from the current Gaza conflict to Hezbollah, officials state that neutralizing threats from the north is now a priority.

The blast incidents mark an alarming intensification in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, which has already seen considerable bloodshed and displacement on both sides of the border, emphasizing the urgent need for defusing tensions.