Eight people died and nearly 2750 people, including members of Hezbollah, were injured Tuesday as thousands of communication pagers exploded across Lebanon in what is being described as the biggest security breach the US-designated terror group has faced in over a year of its ongoing conflict with Israel. The explosions caused widespread panic and chaos, with ambulances seen rushing through the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Iranian news reports suggest that Iran's ambassador in Lebanon was also amongst the wounded in the explosion of pagers in the country. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, close to the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard, said on its Telegram channel that Ambassador Mojtaba Amani has a superficial injury and is under observation at a hospital. Meanwhile, another semi-official Mehr news agency, also on its Telegram channel reported that Amani was wounded by a pager explosion.
A senior military intelligence official and an official with a Lebanese group with knowledge of the situation – both of whom spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said that pagers carried by Hezbollah members were detonated. The second official said it was believed to be an Israeli attack.
Eyewitnesses reported that explosions continued to occur even 30 minutes after the initial blasts, a report by Reuters stated. Residents in the areas gathered outside their buildings, checking on their friends and family members who might have been injured.
Sources told Reuters that similar explosions were reported in southern Lebanon.
There has been no immediate response from Israel so far. The Jewish nation has been engaged in a war with Hamas since October, and Hezbollah has waded into the war alongside the Gaza conflict.
(With inputs from agencies)