Pager blasts in Lebanon kill 9, injure over 2000; Hezbollah blames Israel

At least nine people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed, and 2,750 others wounded after a series of simultaneous explosions involving handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members occurred across Lebanon on Tuesday.

The blasts have plunged the country into chaos as hospitals declared a state of emergency to manage the overwhelming number of casualties.

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the death toll and the number of injured in a press conference, urging citizens to donate blood to aid the critically wounded.

Hezbollah blamed Israel for what it described as a "criminal aggression" targeting civilians. The group vowed retribution, stating that Israel would face "fair punishment" for the attack.

"After examining all the facts and available information about this sinful attack, we hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression," Hezbollah said in an official statement. The group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Palestinian resistance amid the ongoing conflict.

Security sources in Lebanon reported that the explosions occurred in various locations, severely injuring hundreds of Hezbollah members.

The blasts, which began around 3:45 p.m. local time, were reportedly caused by devices overheating, leading to their detonation. Hezbollah has claimed the explosions were the result of an Israeli cyber-attack aimed at disabling their communication systems, marking one of the most significant security breaches the group has faced in its protracted conflict with Israel.