New Delhi: More than a thousand members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, including fighters and medics, sustained serious injuries on Tuesday when their communication pagers exploded in Beirut’s suburbs and other parts of Lebanon, Reuters reported.
The incident, described by a Hezbollah official as the “biggest security breach” in nearly a year of conflict with Israel, has sparked widespread panic and confusion.
The explosions come amidst the ongoing violence between Hezbollah and Israel, which has intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza war last October. The situation remains fluid, with reports of further detonations in southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut.
A Reuters journalist reported ambulances racing through the southern suburbs of Beirut, with widespread panic gripping the area. Residents recalled that explosions continued even 30 minutes after the initial blasts.
Groups of people gathered outside buildings, checking on those who might have been injured. Regional CCTV footage showed small handheld devices exploding in various locations, including a grocery store and a market.
Lebanon’s crisis operations centre, managed by the health ministry, has urged all medical personnel to report to hospitals to handle the influx of wounded. The centre has advised healthcare workers to refrain from using pagers to avoid further incidents.