A series of coordinated explosions involving handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members shook Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least nine people, including a child, and injuring over 2,800 others. The blasts occurred simultaneously in several locations across the country, including the capital Beirut. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, immediately blamed Israel for the explosions, calling it a “criminal aggression” and vowing revenge. The Israeli military, however, declined to comment on the incident.
The explosions primarily targeted pagers used by Hezbollah for internal communications, as the group prefers these devices to mobile phones, which are more susceptible to hacking and tracking. Hezbollah confirmed that eight of its fighters were among those killed, while several civilians, including a 10-year-old girl in the Bekaa Valley, also lost their lives. The health minister confirmed that more than 200 of the injured were in critical condition, with injuries concentrated around the face, hands, and torso, leading to the amputation of fingers and severe trauma in many cases. Among those injured was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, who was reportedly in stable condition after suffering minor injuries.
The explosions triggered panic across Lebanon, with ambulances rushing to overwhelmed hospitals as people scrambled to understand what had happened. In one instance caught on CCTV, a man shopping in a Beirut supermarket can be seen collapsing in agony as the pager in his bag exploded. Similar scenes played out in multiple regions, and hospitals were soon overflowing with casualties, forcing medical staff to close off certain areas due to the graphic nature of the injuries.
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A major investigation has been launched, though Hezbollah has yet to provide specific details about how the explosions were triggered. Some reports suggest the pagers belonged to a new shipment that had been distributed to Hezbollah members in recent days. There are also claims that the devices began heating up before they exploded. However, military and technical experts believe the cause was far more sophisticated than simple overheating. One former British Army explosives expert speculated that the pagers had likely been tampered with, packed with 10-20 grams of military-grade explosives hidden inside fake components. He suggested that a remote signal could have triggered the explosives through an alphanumeric text message or other means, turning the pagers into deadly devices as soon as they were used.
Hezbollah, in its statement, held Israel fully responsible for the explosions, calling the event a “sinful aggression” and promising “just retribution.” Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a “crime by all standards.” The international community, including Iranian officials, has also voiced concerns, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemning what he called Israeli terrorism.
This incident comes amidst an already tense environment between Hezbollah and Israel, with near-daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7. Hezbollah has been actively supporting Hamas during this conflict, with both groups receiving backing from Iran. According to Lebanese officials, over 589 people, mainly Hezbollah fighters, have been killed in Lebanon during this period, while 25 civilians and 21 security personnel have died on the Israeli side.
In response to the ongoing conflict, Israel’s security cabinet has made it an official goal of the war to stop Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel, paving the way for the safe return of the 60,000 displaced residents. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has stressed that only military action can bring an end to the conflict with Hezbollah, warning that the situation is rapidly escalating.
The latest pager explosions are seen as a significant escalation in the conflict, with experts warning of further retaliation from Hezbollah in response to this devastating breach of their security systems. Nicholas Blanford, a senior fellow at the American think tank Atlantic Council, remarked that Israel’s ability to render hundreds, if not thousands, of Hezbollah fighters “combat ineffective” was a major blow to the group. He warned that Hezbollah’s leadership would now face immense pressure from its supporters and fighters to strike back forcefully, calling this incident “the most dangerous moment” in the Hezbollah-Israel conflict since the war with Hamas began.
While investigations continue, the people of Lebanon remain in shock, grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic event that has left the country reeling and fearing further escalation in a region already on edge.
