At least eight people were killed and 2,750 were injured when pagers exploded simultaneously in Lebanon, according to the health minister on September 17. The Iranian-backed Hizballah militant group reported that two of its members and a girl were among the casualties in the "mysterious" explosions.
Health Minister Firass Abiad stated that 200 of the injuries were critical, and Iranian media reported that Iran’s ambassador in Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, was among those hurt. Amani suffered a "superficial injury" from a pager explosion, according to Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s news channel and Mehr news agency also confirmed Amani’s injury.
The exploded pagers were the latest models imported by Hizballah in recent months, as reported by Reuters. Lebanese sources indicated that “hundreds” of Hizballah members, including fighters and aid workers, were affected by the explosions in southern Lebanon and its suburbs.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry condemned the explosions as an “Israeli cyberattack” and claimed that some of the pagers involved were located in Syria. The ministry announced plans to file a complaint with the UN Security Council, denouncing the incident as a dangerous escalation by Israel, which is accused of seeking more bloodshed and destruction.
Hizballah vowed to retaliate, asserting that Israel would face "its fair punishment" for the explosions. An Israeli military spokesperson, while not directly commenting on the explosions, mentioned that Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi had met with senior officers to review the situation, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that hospitals were inundated with casualties from the explosions, urging citizens to discard their pagers and calling for hospitals to be on high alert.
Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence, suggested to RFE/RL that the pager explosions were intended to send a "clear message" to Hizballah. Yadlin speculated that the operation might be a response to a plot to assassinate a senior Israeli security official and noted that Hizballah’s continued attacks on Israel could provoke a policy shift.
On September 16, the Israeli government announced a broader objective in its war strategy, including ensuring the safe return of its citizens to northern areas. This was part of an expansion of its campaign against Hamas in Gaza, aimed at addressing Hizballah on Israel’s northern border.
The timing of these developments coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's return to the region to revive cease-fire talks on the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Despite the primary focus on Gaza, clashes between Israeli forces and Hizballah have resulted in significant casualties on both sides and forced thousands to flee. The expansion of Israel’s war objectives followed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s statement that “military action” was necessary for northern communities to return to their homes.
