Lebanon and the armed group Hezbollah held Israel responsible for a series of explosions on Tuesday, when thousands of devices used by Hezbollah members exploded in various regions of the country, leaving at least nine dead and nearly 3,000 injured.
Authorities reported that at least nine people have died and more than 2,800 have been injured due to the coordinated explosion of hundreds of Hezbollah's beeper devices in Lebanon and Syria.
The attack has been described as "unprecedented" and has further escalated tensions in a region already marked by ongoing conflicts, where the pro-Iran terrorist group has issued a statement calling the explosions a "criminal aggression" directed not only at its members but also at civilians, reported BBC.
The Lebanese militia has promised that "this treacherous and criminal enemy will receive their just punishment."
The Lebanese government has also accused Israel, but so far, the Israeli authorities have not made any statements regarding the incident or such claims.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, stated that Washington has no prior knowledge of or involvement in the incident; while Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, reiterated the U.S. commitment to a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The explosions occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in other locations in Lebanon. The pagers, which in recent decades have been replaced by mobile phones but are still used by certain groups due to their lower vulnerability to interception, went off in public places such as supermarkets, cars, and homes.
The videos and photographs shared on social media showed scenes of chaos, with numerous injured being treated in hospitals.
According to Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent, Hezbollah's use of pagers is due to concerns that mobile phones could be intercepted by Israeli intelligence agents.
The incident has been described as a "serious security breach" for Hezbollah, and the armed group is conducting an investigation to determine the causes of the simultaneous explosions.
The Lebanese state news agency and the television network Al-Manar, linked to Hezbollah, have reported on the magnitude of the event and its devastating impact.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that around 3,000 people were injured, and about 200 remain in critical condition.
It has also been reported that at least 14 people were injured in Syria due to similar explosions.
The attack occurs in the context of prolonged clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, with constant exchanges of cross-border fire and airstrikes.
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