Lebanon’s Health Minister said earlier that the explosions had occurred “in several regions of Lebanon”

Explosions in Lebanon: Nine dead and thousands injured in several regions, says Health Minister

Nine people lost their lives and almost 2,750 others were injured across different regions of Lebanon, following the explosion of their pagers, according to statements by Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firass Abiad. At a press conference, he said that the wounded suffered mainly from injuries “to the face, hands, abdomen and even eyes”.

The minister issued an urgent appeal to health professionals, urging them to return to their posts immediately to cope with the influx of wounded in hospitals. Around 200 of the victims are in critical condition, although this figure remains provisional.

Hezbollah points the finger at Israel

Hezbollah was also hard hit by the series of explosions on September 17. Several of the group’s fighters and cadres were wounded, and the sons of two Hezbollah deputies were killed, according to sources close to the movement. A 10-year-old girl also succumbed to her injuries in eastern Lebanon.

The death toll from these attacks continues to rise. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing a Saudi report, claims that several senior Hezbollah leaders have also been wounded. The pro-Iranian group accuses Israel of being behind the attack, saying in a statement, “We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression, which also caused the death of many civilians and left many wounded.”

The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also slightly injured in the explosion of a pager, Iranian state television reported, specifying that his wound was superficial.

Pagers: a strategic tool for Hezbollah

Hezbollah makes extensive use of these beepers. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing several sources, the beepers involved in these explosions came from a recent shipment delivered to the group.