Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel following explosions of pagers across Lebanon on Tuesday, which killed nine people and injured nearly 3,000, including Hezbollah fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut. Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the explosions, calling them an “Israeli aggression,” and Hezbollah pledged to exact “fair punishment” on Israel.
The explosions occurred in southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the eastern Bekaa Valley, areas known for Hezbollah’s strong presence. The death toll rose to nine, with the number of injured reported at 2,750, including two Hezbollah fighters and a young girl. Surveillance footage showed one explosion at a grocery store, highlighting the widespread impact of the attack.
Hezbollah has described the incident as the “biggest security breach” it has faced in nearly a year of conflict with Israel. The New York Times reported that explosive materials were allegedly concealed within Taiwanese-made Gold Apollo pagers, which were imported to Lebanon and detonated remotely.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the blasts as an “escalation” that would lead to Israel’s failure. UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called the attack a “seriously concerning escalation.”
The Israeli military, which has been in conflict with Hezbollah since the Gaza war began in October, declined to comment on the explosions. An Israeli military spokesman mentioned that Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi had a meeting with senior officers to review the situation, but no policy changes were announced.
Washington has denied involvement in the explosions and emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to the tensions between Israel and Lebanon. The US urged Iran and its allies not to exploit the situation to further destabilize the region.
