At least 20 people have been killed and over 400 more injured in a fresh wave of explosions targeting communications devices used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The targeted attacks, which began with pagers Tuesday and continued Wednesday with hand-held radios, have struck multiple locations across Lebanon, including Beirut.
Tuesday’s pager explosions alone claimed the lives of 12 people and injured approximately 3,000 others. On Wednesday, the detonation of hand-held radios killed an additional 20 people and wounded 450 more.
The devices, primarily used by Hezbollah, were remotely detonated, leaving uncertainty about whether civilians or Hezbollah members were the primary victims.
Iranian officials have condemned the attacks, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani accusing Israel of "mass murder." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed these sentiments, calling the explosions "Israeli terrorism" after speaking with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib.
Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured in Tuesday’s blasts, suffering injuries to his hand and face according to Iranian media.
Despite the serious allegations from Iran, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attacks. The coordinated explosions have heightened tensions in the region, with both Hezbollah and Iranian officials blaming Israeli forces for the attacks.
As of now, the exact number of civilians versus Hezbollah members affected by the explosions remains unclear. With communication devices being targeted directly, the attack represents an escalation in the ongoing regional conflict, further destabilizing Lebanon.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosions, as the death toll and number of wounded are expected to rise.
