9 killed, 2,750 injured in Lebanon pager blasts, Hezbollah vows to punish Israel

According to Reuters, a Hezbollah official said the detonation of the pagers was the "biggest security breach" the group had been subjected to in nearly a year of war with Israel.

In Short

• Hezbollah says detonation of pagers 'biggest security breach'
• Asserts Israel would receive 'its fair punishment'
• No immediate comment from Israeli military, US denies involvement

At least nine people were killed and around 2,750 were wounded in Lebanon on Tuesday after wireless devices used by members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded. Hezbollah said two of its fighters were killed as the militant group blamed Israel for the blasts.

The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

Notably, Hezbollah had instructed its members to avoid mobile phones after the Gaza war began and to rely instead on its own telecommunications system to prevent Israeli breaches. Lebanese internal security forces said a number of wireless communication devices were detonated across the country, especially in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

According to Reuters, a Hezbollah official said the detonation of the pagers was the "biggest security breach" the group had been subjected to in nearly a year of war with Israel. One of the fighters killed was the son of a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament, Reuters quoted two security sources as saying.

According to news agency AFP, Hezbollah leadership said it was an "Israeli breach" of its communications.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the Gaza war erupted last October, the worst such escalation in years.

Iranian media carried CCTV footage of a grocery store which shows what appeared to be a small handheld device placed next to a cashier spontaneously exploding. In other footage, an explosion appeared to knock out someone standing at a fruit stand at a market area.

Hassan Wazni, the head of the Nabatieh public hospital in south Lebanon, told Reuters that around 40 wounded people were being treated at his facility. The wounds included injuries to the face, eyes and limbs, he said.

The wave of explosions lasted around an hour after the initial detonations, which took place about 3:45 p.m. local time (1345 GMT). It was not immediately clear how the devices were detonated.

Lebanese internal security forces said a number of wireless communication devices were detonated across Lebanon, especially in Beirut's southern suburbs, leading to injuries.

The Lebanese Red Cross said more than 50 ambulances and 300 emergency medical staff were dispatched to assist in the evacuation of victims.

Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel immediately after the October 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israel. Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire constantly ever since, while avoiding a major escalation as war rages in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from towns and villages on both sides of the border by the hostilities.