Hezbollah Pledges Retaliation Against Israel Following Explosions Across Lebanon

 

Hezbollah Vows Retaliation Against Israel After Explosive Pagers Detonate Across Lebanon

BEIRUT, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel following explosions caused by pager devices across Lebanon on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people and injuring nearly 3,000, including Hezbollah fighters and Iran's envoy to Beirut.

Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the explosions, referring to them as "Israeli aggression." Hezbollah, which has been engaged in cross-border clashes with Israel since the Gaza war began, promised that Israel would face "its fair punishment" for the attacks.

Israel’s military declined to comment on the pager detonations. Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that the blasts left eight dead and 2,750 wounded, with 200 in critical condition. Hezbollah confirmed that among the dead were two of its fighters and a young girl.

The explosions occurred in Hezbollah strongholds, including southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh), and the Bekaa Valley. Footage from regional broadcasters captured one incident where a pager exploded near a cashier at a grocery store.

A Hezbollah official described the incident as the "biggest security breach" for the group in nearly a year of conflict with Israel.

Hamas, which is waging war with Israel in Gaza, called the blasts an "escalation" that would lead to Israel’s "failure and defeat."

The U.S. State Department urged Iran and its allies not to exploit the situation to destabilize the region. An Israeli military spokesman, without directly addressing the explosions, said that vigilance remains essential.

Hezbollah has used pagers as a low-tech communication method, hoping to evade Israeli tracking systems, according to sources familiar with the group’s operations.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, suffered minor injuries and was under observation, while reports indicated that the casualties included Hezbollah fighters who were the sons of high-ranking officials. Among the dead was the son of a Hezbollah member of parliament, Ali Ammar, who promised consequences for the attacks.

Hezbollah has suffered significant losses in recent months, including the death of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, in July. Security sources in Lebanon reported two more Hezbollah fighters were killed in an Israeli strike on Tuesday.

Israel, earlier in the day, claimed it had thwarted a Hezbollah assassination plot targeting a former senior defense official.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, Hezbollah has indicated it seeks to avoid an all-out war with Israel, stating that only an end to the Gaza conflict would halt the cross-border clashes.

The pager explosions sent shockwaves through Beirut’s southern suburbs, with ambulances rushing victims to nearby hospitals. Local medical facilities, including Nabatieh public hospital, reported treating dozens of patients, many with severe injuries to their faces, eyes, and limbs.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in continuous skirmishes since the start of the Gaza war in October, displacing tens of thousands of people from the border regions. Israel has reiterated that part of its war goals includes the safe return of its citizens to their homes near the Lebanese border.