Hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists were reportedly injured in separate explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
The widespread explosion was the result of the sudden detonation of numerous terrorist communications and “radio” devices in Lebanon and Syria. According to To Axios' Barak Ravid and Reuters: It is still unclear who was behind the attack, but it came a day after Israel warned it was considering new action against Hezbollah following its stepped-up attacks. (Related article: After years of war, Al Qaeda is far from defeated.)
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in frequent and escalating gun battles since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, starting a regional war. Israel's defense minister was reported to have told U.S. envoys on Monday that “the time for a diplomatic solution has passed, as Hezbollah remains tied to Hamas and refuses to end the conflict.” According to To Axios.
“The Lebanese government has been working closely with Israel to ensure that the security of its borders is protected,” the ministry said in a statement.
Iran's ambassador to Lebanon was reportedly injured in the blast. According to To the Jerusalem Post.
One video shows a bag exploding inside what appears to be a grocery store, while another shows a person inside the store placing what appears to be a wireless device on a counter before being blown apart in a similar explosion.
Footage of pagers worn by Hezbollah members exploding across Lebanon.
An unprecedented incident. https://t.co/gf37usZrxC pic.twitter.com/5VNZKzxEbi
— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) September 17, 2024
According to Reuters, explosions continued 30 minutes after the first explosion. The cause of the explosions is unclear, but a Hezbollah official said: said The Wall Street Journal reported that some people reported feeling the device heat up before the explosion.
The Lebanese Red Cross said dozens of ambulances had been mobilized to respond to “multiple bombings,” The Times reported. The number of casualties was unclear. Civilians have been urged not to use such equipment until further notice.
The incident could be the latest sign of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which launched attacks on Israel last year on the same day that Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and starting a regional war. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging gunfire ever since, with the frequency and intensity only increasing as the conflict continues.
Senior Israeli government officials warned on Monday that it would be impossible to allow residents in the north, which borders Lebanon, to return to their homes unless the security situation changes. According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly told the US envoy that “the time for a diplomatic solution has passed, as Hezbollah remains tied to Hamas and refuses to end the conflict,” according to Axios.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news service, is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
