Hezbollah Men Among 12 Dead, Thousands Injured As Handheld Pagers Explode In Lebanon, Syria

The pagers, reportedly, began to overheat at around 3:30 pm local time and eventually exploded in the pockets and hands of people carrying them. The explosions happened primarily in a southern suburb of Beirut, the Beqaa region in eastern Lebanon—where Hezbollah has a strong presence—and in Damascus, where several Hezbollah members were injured, according to Lebanese security officials and a Hezbollah official.

The handheld pagers, reportedly used by members of the militant group Hezbollah, suddenly exploded at multiple locations in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Lebanon's health minister, Firass Abiad said that eight people have been killed and around 2,750 have been injured by pagers explosions across the country.

Iran's ambassador among thousands injured

A Hezbollah official said that 'several hundred' people including its members were injured in pagers' explosion. Hezbollah officials say at least two of its members and a girl were killed. According to news agency AFP, a 10-year old girl, daughter of a Hezbollah member was killed in the explosion.

Mujtaba Amani, Iran's ambassador to Lebanon was also wounded, Iranian news reports said.

Pagers were of 'new brand'

According to Lebanese state media and security officials, ‘the handheld pagers detonated due to advanced technology’, leading to numerous injuries.

Hezbollah officials said that the pagers that exploded were of 'new brand.' They were the latest models smuggled into the country by Hezbollah in recent months.

The new pagers, which were equipped with lithium batteries, appear to have exploded due to overheating. Lithium batteries, commonly used in consumer electronics like cellphones, laptops, and electric cars, can overheat, resulting in smoke, melting, and even fires.

Images and videos circulating on social media and local media show some scenes of explosion. Some images also show injured individuals lying on the pavement with wounds on their hands and near their pockets, where the pagers were carried.

Hezbollah and intelligence blame Israel

A senior military intelligence official and an official with a Lebanese group familiar with the situation, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, indicated that the pagers used by Hezbollah members were the source of the explosions. The second official speculated Israel’s involvement in the attack.

Lebanon's information minister has said the explosions are an act of 'Israeli aggression'.

A Hezbollah official has called the pagers explosion 'biggest security breach' in a year of conflict with Israel. In a statement, the Lebanese Shia militia said that it holds Israel "fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians".

"This treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression, whether it expects it or not."

The militant group also reiterated its "support and backing for the valiant Palestinian resistance".

This explosion comes at a time when the tensions between Lebanon and Israel are heightened. For over 11 months, clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been frequent, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. These clashes have resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned his members against carrying cellphones, cautioning that they could be used by Israel to track movements and conduct targeted strikes. This latest incident highlights the ongoing and volatile nature of the conflict in the region.