Explosion of Hezbollah Pagers; US Warns Iran About Possible Reaction to Incident

Reports from Lebanon indicate that at least eleven people were killed and around four thousand others, including hundreds of Hezbollah members, such as fighters and rescuers, were injured due to the simultaneous explosion of pager devices. The US claims it had no prior knowledge or involvement in the incident. Lebanon's Minister of Health announced on Tuesday evening, September 27, that the pager explosions resulted in 11 deaths and injuries to four thousand others, with the condition of at least 400 injured being critical. Faras Al-Abiad also stated that most injuries were to the face, hands, and abdomen. The Saudi-aligned Al-Hadath network reported that approximately 500 of the injured have lost their sight. Earlier, Hezbollah had stated in a statement that several pager devices used by some 'staff of Hezbollah units and institutions' exploded on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of a girl and two members of the group. The group, supported by the Islamic Republic, later accused Israel of orchestrating the attack and stated, 'The criminal enemy will be punished for this aggression.' Reports also indicate that the son of Hassan Nasrallah, a former Hezbollah leader, and the children of several other senior Hezbollah members were among the casualties. Ali Ammar, a Hezbollah member in the Lebanese parliament, also announced his son's death in front of cameras. A former Israeli army official told Radio Farda that the pager explosions were a 'clear message' to Hezbollah. The Lebanese government described the pager explosions as 'Israeli aggression' and a 'dangerous violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.' Following these developments, the Israeli army announced it was on 'high alert.' In a brief statement, the Israeli army said that General Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff, and senior defense commanders held consultations on offensive and defensive actions across all fronts on Tuesday evening. According to Israeli defense officials, it appears that both sides are approaching a 'major confrontation.' The US position: A spokesperson for the US State Department stated on Tuesday that the US had neither prior knowledge nor involvement in the extensive explosion of pagers used by Hezbollah in Lebanon and urged Iran not to exploit the incident. Matthew Miller further stated that they are currently gathering information about the incident. He also refrained from commenting on speculations that the pager explosions were carried out by Israel. Mr. Miller emphasized that the US message to Iran remains unchanged: 'We urge Iran not to exploit any incident for further instability and increased tensions in the region.' The US State Department spokesperson reminded that Washington seeks a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. He said, 'We want to find a solution that allows tens of thousands of Israelis and tens of thousands of Lebanese living near the borders of both countries, who have been displaced due to the conflict, to return to their lives.' The US State Department spokesperson, without confirming Israel's involvement in the pager explosion incident, stated that members of a terrorist organization are legitimate targets for attack. The US has designated Hezbollah, supported by the Islamic Republic, as a terrorist group. Meanwhile, a Hezbollah member, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters that the pager explosions represent 'the largest security breach' Hezbollah has faced in about a year of conflict with Israel. Two sources from Lebanon told Radio Farda that tents for blood donation have been set up in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Iranian Ambassador: Iranian media report that Mojtaba Amani, the Islamic Republic's ambassador in Beirut, was also injured. The Islamic Republic's news network and Mehr news agency reported this, while Fars news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, quoted an informed source stating that Mr. Amani sustained 'superficial injuries' from the pager explosion. The Iranian ambassador's wife also confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Mojtaba Amani was injured and added that he is 'doing well.' The Lebanese Ministry of Health issued a statement urging all citizens with pager devices to immediately distance themselves from these devices. The statement also requested all hospitals to be on standby. The Lebanese Ministry of Health also stated that hundreds of injured individuals from the Hezbollah pager explosions have arrived at hospitals. A Reuters journalist reported that ambulances were moving towards the southern suburbs. A source close to Hezbollah told the Associated Press that this is believed to be an attack by Israel. The wave of explosions from the pagers continued for about an hour after the first explosion occurred around 3:45 PM local time. Lebanon's internal security forces stated that several wireless communication devices exploded across Lebanon, especially in the southern suburbs of Beirut, leaving injuries. Surveillance camera footage shows a small handheld device exploding near a store cashier. In another video, the explosion of a device injures and knocks down a shopper in a fruit market. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based organization, reported on Tuesday that fourteen people in Syria were injured due to the explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah members. This organization stated that the nationality of these individuals is still unknown, and they were injured in Damascus and its suburbs. Meanwhile, former Israeli security officials emphasized that their country bears no responsibility in this regard, telling Kan Israel that Mossad is fundamentally capable of such operations. Sima Shine, a former head of the 'Iran desk' at Mossad, told Kan that if the simultaneous pager explosions were carried out by Israel, the country would be prepared for potential reactions from Hezbollah. According to Ms. Shine, the injuries to these individuals and possibly several key Hezbollah figures would hinder their ability to enter a potential war campaign against Israel. This former Mossad official assessed that Hezbollah would respond to this incident. Ms. Shine stated that Israel aims to achieve safe conditions for its citizens living in the north. Why does Hezbollah use 'pagers'? The expansion of war to Lebanon: This incident comes as the Israeli cabinet announced early Tuesday, following a several-hour meeting, that it is expanding its war objectives and shifting its nearly year-long fight against the extremist group Hamas in Gaza to confront Hezbollah along the northern border with Lebanon. Hamas is one of the groups listed as terrorist organizations by the US and the EU. This announcement coincides with the return of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region this week to attempt to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. So far, Israel's objectives have included destroying Hamas and recovering hostages taken by Palestinian militants in the October 15 attacks. While the focus of the war has been on Gaza, continuous exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, Hamas's ally in Lebanon, have led to the flight of tens of thousands of people from both sides of the border. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday, September 27, that 'the political-security cabinet updated the war objectives tonight, including a new section: the safe return of northern residents to their homes.' Although this exchange of fire has not been officially declared as 'war,' it has resulted in hundreds of deaths, mostly fighters in Lebanon, and dozens of civilians and soldiers in Israel. This new Israeli announcement comes a day after Yoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, stated that 'military action' is the only remaining way to ensure the return of northern communities to their homes. This Israeli decision is interpreted as likely to initiate a large-scale military operation that poses the risk of igniting a comprehensive conflict. Following this decision, Hezbollah warned Lebanon about the consequences of a large-scale attack in Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister announced the transfer of the 'center of gravity' of its military operations to the northern border. After the surprise attack by the extremist group Hamas on Israeli territory on October 15 of last year, which prompted the Israeli army to enter a ground war in the Gaza Strip, three official and specified objectives of the war so far have been: to strip Hamas of its military capabilities, to prevent threats to Israel from militants in Gaza, and to recover Israeli hostages. There are still 101 of the 251 Israeli citizens abducted by Hamas in Gaza. Israel evacuated tens of thousands of residents from its northern areas in the first week after Hamas's attack on southern Israel, fearing a similar action from Hezbollah. Thousands of others in cities that were not officially evacuated by Israel have relocated at their own expense due to fears of risks arising from continuous rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah on other parts of Israel. Hezbollah, Iran's proxy group in the region, began rocket and drone attacks on Israel one day after the attack by the Palestinian militant group, with the Israeli army responding daily, resulting in the deaths of about 450 Hezbollah members, including Fouad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, on Lebanese soil. About 100 others, mostly from among the Palestinian militants active in the region, have also been killed by Israel. Hezbollah's attacks have resulted in the deaths of 50 people in northern Israel, including 26 civilians and 24 soldiers, and have caused significant damage to homes and farms. Local officials in these cities and displaced persons have pressured the Israeli government for months to initiate a decisive war against Hezbollah with the aim of restoring peace to northern Israel. The Israeli army has long presented its final plans for a large-scale war against Hezbollah to the cabinet, leaving the decision to start the war to the Prime Minister and the Israeli political cadre. In the Israeli Prime Minister's office statement on September 27 regarding 'updating the war objectives; including the safe return of northern residents to their homes,' there is no explicit mention of war in Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Minister reiterated the day before that the only remaining way to ensure the return of people to their homes in the north is 'military action.' Yoav Gallant, on Monday, told Amos Hochstein, the US special envoy, in Tel Aviv that the likelihood of reaching an agreement (to distance Hezbollah forces from the northern border of Israel) is diminishing, and we see that Hezbollah continues to tie itself to Hamas. Benjamin Netanyahu, who later met with this senior American diplomat on Monday, told him that he is 'seeking a fundamental change' in the security situation for Israel's northern border. Recent reports from Israeli media indicate that the Biden administration has warned Benjamin Netanyahu that expanding the war will not achieve its objectives and has pressured him to refrain from initiating operations in Lebanon.