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Hundreds of Hezbollah members hurt and some killed after pagers explode Almost 3,000 people hurt and some killed after Hezbollah pagers explode
(30 minutes later)
Detonations across Lebanon reported as Hezbollah says two of its fighters and a 10-year-old girl killed Detonations across Lebanon reported as Shia militia says two of its fighters and a 10-year-old girl killed
Hundreds of Hezbollah members were injured and an unknown number killed on Tuesday after pagers used by the Lebanese Shia militia exploded across Lebanon simultaneously. Almost 3,000 people have been wounded and at least eight killed after pagers used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon simultaneously, according to the country’s health minister.
Hezbollah said in a statement that two of its fighters and a 10-year-old girl had been killed. Lebanon’s health minister, Firass Abiad, said the blasts killed eight people, including a girl. “About 2,750 people were injured ... more than 200 of them critically,” with injuries mostly reported to the face, hands and stomach, he told a press conference.
A Hezbollah source told the Guardian that they suspected Israel was behind the attack, but that the number of wounded was still unclear. They said they also believed the attack was in response to the alleged assassination attempt by Hezbollah on a former top Israeli defence official, revealed on Tuesday by the Israeli Shin Bet security agency. Hezbollah said in a statement that two of its fighters and a 10-year-old girl were among the dead.
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was one of the injured in the explosions, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency. Lebanon’s information minister called the explosions an act of “Israeli aggression”.
Some of the top Hezbollah leaders and their advisers were injured in the explosions, the Saudi-owned Alhadath news channel reported, quoting unnamed sources. A Hezbollah source told the Guardian they suspected Israel was behind Tuesday’s attack, but that the number of wounded was still unclear. They said they also believed the attack was in response to the alleged assassination attempt by the Shia militia on a former top Israeli defence official, revealed on Tuesday by the Israeli Shin Bet security agency.
Lebanon’s minister of health, Firas Abiad, said that while it was too early for an accurate tally, the number of wounded was in the “hundreds” and there were some fatalities from the explosions. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was one of those injured in the explosions, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.
The attack was the third time Beirut has been targeted since the beginning of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah on 8 October, after the latter launched rockets at Israel “in solidarity” with Hamas’s attack the day prior, which began the current Gaza war. Some of the top Hezbollah leaders and their advisers were also injured, the Saudi-owned Al-Hadath news channel reported, quoting unnamed sources.
Abiad, said that while it was too early for an accurate tally, the number of wounded was in the “hundreds” and there were some fatalities from the explosions.
The attack was the third time Beirut has been targeted since the beginning of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah on 8 October, after the latter launched rockets at Israel “in solidarity” with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel the day before, which began the current Gaza war.
Ambulances choked the streets of Beirut, the southern city of Tyre and villages across the Beqaa valley and south Lebanon, taking the wounded to hospitals. Pictures of the wounded with scorched hips and mangled hands circulated across local media.Ambulances choked the streets of Beirut, the southern city of Tyre and villages across the Beqaa valley and south Lebanon, taking the wounded to hospitals. Pictures of the wounded with scorched hips and mangled hands circulated across local media.
A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the detonation of the pagers was the “biggest security breach” the group had been subjected to in nearly a year of war with Israel.A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the detonation of the pagers was the “biggest security breach” the group had been subjected to in nearly a year of war with Israel.
Lebanon’s health ministry asked all healthcare workers to head to their stations and put hospitals across the country on “maximum alert”. It further instructed citizens to distance themselves from wireless communication devices. Lebanon’s health ministry put hospitals across the country on “maximum alert” and asked all healthcare workers to head to their stations. It instructed citizens to distance themselves from wireless communication devices.
Hezbollah maintains its own communication network separate from the rest of Lebanon. Suspicions that Israel has managed to penetrate the group’s telecommunications have been held since October, as several Hezbollah commanders have been assassinated in targeted strikes.Hezbollah maintains its own communication network separate from the rest of Lebanon. Suspicions that Israel has managed to penetrate the group’s telecommunications have been held since October, as several Hezbollah commanders have been assassinated in targeted strikes.
Israel has yet to comment on the attack.Israel has yet to comment on the attack.
The incident in Lebanon comes as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been holding a series of high-level security consultations with the heads of the security forces as tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon rise, according to Israeli media reports. Yossi Melman, a co-author of Spies Against Armageddon and other books on Israeli intelligence, said: “This absolutely has all the hallmarks of a Mossad operation. Somebody has planted minor explosives or malware from inside the pagers. I understand they were recently supplied as well.”
Melman said he understood that “a lot of people in Hezbollah carried these pagers, not just top echelon commanders”. They were used by the Lebanese group because they feared their mobile phones were being monitored by Israeli intelligence to surveil their communications and to pinpoint missile attacks.
The exercise showed, he said, that “Mossad is able to penetrate and infiltrate Hezbollah time and time again” but he questioned whether there was any strategic gain to the co-ordinated explosions. “It won’t change the situation on the ground, and I don’t see any advance in it.”
The incident came as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was holding a series of high-level security consultations with the heads of the security forces as tensions with Hezbollah rise, according to Israeli media reports.
The Times of Israel and Ynet news described the meetings as “dramatic”.The Times of Israel and Ynet news described the meetings as “dramatic”.
The high-level security consultations were called a few hours after Israel, during an overnight meeting of the security cabinet on Tuesday, approved the decision to expand its war goals to include the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from towns along the northern frontier that have been badly damaged by rockets fired by Hezbollah – a move that suggests a major military operation against the Lebanese militant group is likely. The consultations were called a few hours after Israel, during an overnight meeting of the security cabinet on Tuesday, approved the decision to expand its war goals to include the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from towns along the northern frontier that have been badly damaged by rockets fired by Hezbollah – a move that suggests a major military operation against the Lebanese militant group is likely.
On Tuesday, Israel’s internal security agency said it had foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to kill a former senior Israeli security official, which was reportedly to be carried out in the coming days.On Tuesday, Israel’s internal security agency said it had foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to kill a former senior Israeli security official, which was reportedly to be carried out in the coming days.
The Shin Bet said in a statement that it had found an explosive “device fitted with a camera and a mechanism that would allow it to be activated by Hezbollah from Lebanon“, although it did not provide evidence linking the device to the Lebanese group. The Shin Bet said in a statement that it had found an explosive “device fitted with a camera and a mechanism that would allow it to be activated by Hezbollah from Lebanon”, although it did not provide evidence linking the device to the group.
Hezbollah officials have said in the past that the group would stand down if a Gaza ceasefire was reached, while Israel insists it cannot allow militants to remain in the border area in Lebanon’s south. Hezbollah officials have said in the past that the group would stand down if a Gaza ceasefire was reached, while Israel insists it cannot allow militants to remain in the border area in southern Lebanon.
The violence has killed hundreds – mostly fighters – in Lebanon, and dozens of civilians and soldiers on the Israeli side. The fighting has also forced tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee their homes.The violence has killed hundreds – mostly fighters – in Lebanon, and dozens of civilians and soldiers on the Israeli side. The fighting has also forced tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee their homes.
In recent days, according to media reports in the country, Netanyahu has been allegedly considering dismissing the defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in a move that would be the biggest leadership shake-up in the country since the 7 October attacks, and could pave the way to an all-out conflict against Hezbollah in Lebanon.In recent days, according to media reports in the country, Netanyahu has been allegedly considering dismissing the defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in a move that would be the biggest leadership shake-up in the country since the 7 October attacks, and could pave the way to an all-out conflict against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Gallant is believed to have consistently opposed a major military operation in Lebanon, as the country is still fighting Hamas in Gaza, with the West Bank witnessing an escalation of violence and military activities, and while the country is fighting off Houthi missile attacks and dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and threats. Gallant is believed to have consistently opposed a major military operation in Lebanon while the fighting is continuing against Hamas in Gaza, West Bank violence and military activities is escalating, and Israel is fighting off Houthi missile attacks and dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and threats.
Additional reporting by Dan Sabbagh