The Iran-backed militant group said handheld communication devices belonging to its members had blown up across the country.
The militant group Hezbollah said Tuesday that pagers belonging to its members had blown up across Lebanon, killing at least eight and injuring more than 2,700, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
Iran-backed Hezbollah pinned the blame for the widespread and seemingly simultaneous blasts on Israel, without providing evidence for its claim. Israel did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the accusations and the pager explosions.
More than 200 people were in critical condition after the blasts, Public Health Minister Dr. Firas Abiad told reporters.
Amid what was developing into a nationwide health emergency, Lebanese officials ordered the public to avoid using handheld communication devices.
Mojtaba Amani, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, was among those injured, according to the country’s embassy. In an post on X, it described his injuries as “superficial,” and added that Amani was in a good condition.
NPR was saying these devices are used by people in government too and that government vehicles were seen arriving at the hospital, and that children had been killed. They didn’t just target Hezbollah.