A series of devastating explosions rocked Lebanon on Tuesday, leaving over 1,000 people injured, including Hezbollah fighters and medical personnel, after a coordinated attack on the pagers used by the group for communication. The detonations, which affected multiple regions across the country, marked what a Hezbollah official described as the "biggest security breach" the organization has faced since the escalation of hostilities with Israel last October.
The attack occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. local time and continued for nearly an hour, causing widespread panic, particularly in Hezbollah strongholds such as Beirut's southern suburbs and the Beqaa Valley. Lebanese internal security forces confirmed that a number of wireless communication devices, including pagers, had exploded across the country, with the most severe impact felt in areas dominated by Hezbollah.
The source of the explosions remains unclear, and the Israeli military, which has been engaged in ongoing cross-border skirmishes with Hezbollah, declined to comment on the incident. However, the scale and precision of the attack have raised significant concerns among Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah officials about the group's vulnerabilities.
Among the injured was Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, who was reportedly wounded in one of the blasts in Beirut. Iranian state media reported that Amani suffered a superficial injury and is currently under observation in a local hospital. Additionally, two employees of the Iranian embassy were also reported injured, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
The pagers are generally kept in their pockets.
This means Israel is literally blowing off Hezbollah testicles all across Lebanon today. Hundreds of them.
Well deserved.
pic.twitter.com/uzKvjDa6DA — (@NiohBerg) September 17, 2024
The explosions have overwhelmed Lebanon's healthcare system, prompting the Ministry of Health to issue an urgent call for all medical personnel to report to their respective hospitals. The ministry also urged the public to discard any pagers they might possess, warning that the devices could pose a significant risk. Hospitals across the country have been placed on high alert as the number of injured continues to rise, and the Lebanese Red Cross has deployed over 50 ambulances and 300 emergency medical staff to assist in the evacuation of victims.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and confusion in the aftermath of the explosions. In Beirut, ambulances raced through the streets, while in the southern city of Nabatieh, hospitals struggled to cope with the influx of wounded. A Reuters journalist at the scene reported seeing individuals with severe injuries to their faces, eyes, and limbs, many of whom were rushed to emergency rooms on motorcycles.
CCTV footage from various locations in Lebanon captured the horrifying moments when the pagers detonated. In one video, a man can be seen picking fruit at a supermarket when an explosion shreds his bag, causing bystanders to flee as the man collapses in pain. Other videos circulating on social media show similar scenes of carnage, with victims, including children, covered in blood and suffering from visible injuries.
The attack has added to the already volatile situation in Lebanon, which has been embroiled in conflict since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, has been engaged in constant exchanges of fire with Israeli forces along the border, displacing tens of thousands of people on both sides.
While the exact method used to trigger the pager explosions remains under investigation, the attack underscores the high-stakes nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The fact that such a significant breach could occur has raised alarms not only within Hezbollah but also among its allies, including Iran.
Lebanon's crisis operations center, run by the Ministry of Health, has called on all available resources to deal with the aftermath of the attack. As the situation continues to develop, there is growing concern about the potential for further escalation and the broader implications for regional stability.
