Lebanon: Hezbollah vows retaliation after deadly pager detonations
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has pledged to retaliate after blaming Israel for detonating pagers that killed at least eight people and injured 2,750 others, including Hezbollah fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut, according to Reuters.
Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the incident as “Israeli aggression.” Hezbollah stated that Israel would receive “its fair punishment” for the blasts.
A Hezbollah official described the detonation as the “biggest security breach” in nearly a year of conflict with Israel.
Also, the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, “Developments in Lebanon are extremely concerning… We deplore any civilian casualties.”
Also Read: Video: Lebanon hit by mysterious pager explosions; Iran envoy, several others injured
The Israeli military declined to comment directly on the explosions. However, a military spokesman said the chief of staff, Major-General Herzi Halevi, met with senior officers to assess the situation, emphasizing the need for continued “vigilance.”
Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of at least two of its fighters in the explosions and is conducting an investigation into their causes.
The detonations occurred in southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut known as Dahiyeh, and the eastern Bekaa valley – all Hezbollah strongholds.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported 2,750 people were wounded, 200 critically. Many injured included Hezbollah fighters, some being sons of top officials. One of the fighters killed was the son of a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament, Ali Ammar.
