September 17, 2024 at 11:57AM
Dozens injured, including Iran’s ambassador, in Lebanon after pagers exploded in Beirut and other areas. It is suspected that the pagers, carried by Hezbollah members, were detonated in an Israeli attack. Hospitals overwhelmed, calling for blood donations. Hezbollah official blames Israel. Tensions remain high amid ongoing clashes between Lebanon and Israel.
Based on the meeting notes, it appears there has been a significant incident in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon involving the explosion of handheld pagers. Dozens of people, including Iran’s ambassador, have been wounded, and there is speculation that this may be an Israeli attack, according to security officials and media reports.
Hezbollah members are reported to have been carrying the pagers that detonated, with the group’s leader previously warning against carrying cellphones due to concerns about tracking and targeted strikes by Israel. The incident has resulted in a large number of injuries and has prompted Lebanon’s Health Ministry to issue alerts to hospitals and the general public.
The explosion of handheld pagers is believed to be a security operation targeting the devices, with a Hezbollah official implying Israeli involvement in the incident. Additionally, there is mention of lithium batteries in the pagers that apparently exploded, though the cause of the explosions is not definitively established.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Lebanon and Israel, with ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as well as the larger conflict between Israel and Hezbollah ally Hamas in Gaza.
Given the seriousness of this incident and its potential implications for regional tensions, it would be advisable to closely monitor the situation and gather further information as it becomes available.