Mass pager explosions injure thousands in Lebanon, Hezbollah claims Israeli breach

In a coordinated attack across Lebanon, thousands of pagers detonated, injuring numerous individuals, including members of Hezbollah and Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani.

The explosion, which Hezbollah has attributed to Israel, marks one of the most significant security breaches the group has faced.

Hezbollah, designated as a terror group by the United States and European Union, blamed the synchronized blasts on an "Israeli breach" of its internal telecommunications network. The group has long relied on its own communication systems and had instructed its members to avoid mobile phones since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, in order to prevent Israeli interference.

The detonations occurred in Hezbollah strongholds, including areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

A source close to Hezbollah, speaking anonymously, reported dozens of members were injured. The Lebanese National News Agency described the incident as an "unprecedented enemy security breach," highlighting that handheld pagers across the country exploded almost simultaneously.

This attack comes amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the group engaging in near-daily skirmishes in support of Hamas since the war in Gaza began.