8 Dead, 3000 Injured in Lebanon Explosions, Hezbollah Blames Israel

At least eight people were killed, and over 2,750 were wounded on Tuesday across Lebanon following explosions from wireless devices used by Hezbollah members. Hezbollah blamed Israel for the blasts, calling it the “biggest security breach” the group has faced during its yearlong war with Israel, according to a Hezbollah official cited by Reuters.

The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also injured in the incident, as reported by Iran’s Mehr news agency. Hezbollah had earlier advised its members to avoid mobile phones after the Gaza war started, opting instead for its own telecommunications system to prevent Israeli breaches.

One of the Hezbollah fighters killed was the son of a member of the Lebanese parliament, sources told Reuters. Hezbollah leadership attributed the explosions to an “Israeli breach” of its communications, according to AFP. However, the Israeli military did not comment on the matter immediately.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, has seen cross-border warfare since the Gaza war erupted last October, marking one of the worst escalations in recent years. Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border have been displaced by the fighting.

Footage aired by Iranian media showed a grocery store where a small handheld device, placed next to a cashier, suddenly exploded. Another clip revealed an explosion near a fruit stand, injuring a bystander.

Dr. Hassan Wazni, the head of the Nabatieh public hospital in southern Lebanon, said approximately 40 people were being treated for injuries, which included wounds to the face, eyes, and limbs. The Lebanese Red Cross deployed over 50 ambulances and 300 emergency medical personnel to help with the evacuation.

The wave of explosions reportedly lasted for about an hour, beginning around 3:45 p.m. local time. It remains unclear how the devices were detonated.

Hezbollah had fired missiles at Israel immediately following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Since then, both sides have exchanged fire, though a major escalation has been avoided so far as war rages in Gaza.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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