Hezbollah Reports 2 Members Killed, Many Injured by Exploding Pagers

Beirut, Lebanon — On Tuesday, Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement reported that many of its members sustained injuries in a series of explosions attributed to simultaneous detonations of pagers across various locations in Beirut and southern Lebanon, resulting in at least three fatalities. Hezbollah and Lebanese officials condemned Israel, declaring the incident a “sinful aggression” and vowed retaliation.

In a statement, Hezbollah asserted, “We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression, which also targeted civilians and led to the martyrdom of a number of people and the injury of a large number.” The group promised that the “treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression, whether it expects it or not.”

This coordinated attack comes amidst growing anxiety in Washington regarding the potential for Israel to escalate its conflict with Hezbollah while continuing its military operations against Hamas in Gaza. Earlier reports indicated that one girl and at least two Hezbollah members were among the casualties, while Lebanon’s public health minister, Dr. Firass Abiad, announced that the explosions killed at least eight and injured around 2,800 people.

Lebanese state media reported that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was injured in one of the blasts, although he remained “conscious and in no danger.”

Israeli officials have not issued an immediate statement regarding the explosions, and government ministers within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party were instructed to refrain from commenting.

The CBS News team is endeavoring to verify numerous videos circulating on social media, some depicting bystanders going about their daily lives when explosions erupted nearby, as well as footage showing the bloody aftermath of small blasts.

In response to the surge in casualties, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health urged health workers to return to their workplaces to manage the overwhelming influx of injured individuals seeking emergency care.

Hezbollah has increasingly employed low-tech communication methods to evade Israeli electronic surveillance, particularly following targeted strikes that have eliminated key figures like the commander Fuad Shukr, killed in Beirut by an Israeli attack in July.

According to reports, Hezbollah leaders have instituted bans on cell phone use in certain areas, instructing members to rely on pagers and face-to-face communications.

Amid rising tensions, violence between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks. The explosions occurred shortly after intensified confrontations along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that he intends to dismantle Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon to halt the ongoing rocket fire targeting Israel.

In recent weeks, speculation has grown that Netanyahu may launch a full-scale military campaign in southern Lebanon, despite warnings from the U.S. and other allies regarding the risks of escalating the conflict into a broader regional war, which could provoke further retaliatory actions against U.S. forces in the area.

Hezbollah has been launching rockets into northern Israel since the onset of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, targeting its ally, Hamas, which also receives support from Iran. The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, has left over 42,000 individuals dead in Gaza and heightened tensions across the Middle East.

The situation has led to the displacement of tens of thousands on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border since early October. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have reportedly resulted in more than 450 deaths, primarily among Hezbollah fighters, while Israeli casualties have included 21 soldiers and 13 civilians from attacks originating in Lebanon.

This breaking news story will be updated.