An ambulance arrives at a hospital as more than 1,000 people, including Hezbollah fighters and medics, were wounded on Tuesday when the pagers they use to communicate exploded across Lebanon, according to a security source, in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 17, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir 

Hezbollah Vows Retaliation After Accusing Israel of Deadly Pager Explosions Across Lebanon

Incident Overview

The militant group Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel following a series of explosions across Lebanon, which the group claims were orchestrated by Israeli forces. These explosions, which involved handheld pager devices commonly used by Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon, resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals and wounded approximately 3,000 others. Among those injured were Hezbollah fighters and Iran’s ambassador to Beirut.

Lebanese Government’s Response

Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the attacks, labeling the explosions as an act of “Israeli aggression.” The detonation of the pagers occurred in southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut (known as Dahiyeh), and the Bekaa Valley, which are areas predominantly under Hezbollah’s control. Closed-circuit television footage from regional broadcasters showed a device exploding at a grocery store counter, contributing to the heightened tension.

Hezbollah’s Reaction and Warnings

Hezbollah’s leadership expressed outrage over the explosions, stating that Israel would face “fair punishment” for the attacks. A Hezbollah official, who requested anonymity, described the detonation of the pagers as the group’s most significant security breach in the ongoing conflict with Israel over the past year. The casualties included several high-profile Hezbollah fighters, including the son of a member of the Lebanese parliament. Hezbollah declared that it would respond to the attacks in a manner that would resonate with Israel.

Health Minister’s Update on Casualties

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that the explosions had killed eight people and injured 2,750, with 200 of the wounded listed in critical condition. Hezbollah’s initial statement confirmed that the fatalities included two of its fighters and a young girl. Hospitals across the affected areas, including Mount Lebanon and Nabatieh, were overwhelmed with injured individuals, many of whom had sustained serious injuries to their faces, eyes, and limbs.

Escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

This latest development comes amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, which have been occurring since the Gaza war began in October. Hezbollah’s fighters have been using low-tech pager devices to communicate in an effort to evade Israeli surveillance and tracking. Israel, however, has not officially responded to questions regarding the explosions. Nonetheless, the Israeli military remains on high alert, with Major General Herzi Halevi convening senior officers to assess the situation.

Impact on Gaza Ceasefire Efforts

The explosions come at a time when ceasefire talks regarding the Gaza conflict remain deadlocked, despite mediation attempts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Hezbollah, while indicating that it does not seek an all-out conflict with Israel, maintains that the continuation of hostilities in Gaza will perpetuate cross-border clashes. The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over the incident, urging Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah, not to use the situation to destabilize the region further.

Broader Regional Implications

Hezbollah’s response to the explosions could have broader implications for the Middle East, as it is part of the “Axis of Resistance,” a coalition that includes Iran, Yemen’s Houthis, and other armed groups in Iraq. While Iranian media reported that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, sustained only minor injuries in the blasts, the incident has heightened regional tensions. Hezbollah has already suffered significant losses over the past year, including the death of its top commander Fuad Shukr in July.

Additionally, Israeli security forces recently thwarted an assassination plot against a former senior defense official, reportedly planned by Hezbollah.