Grapevine

Lebanon’s health minister says 8 killed, 2,750 wounded by exploding pagers

Hezbollah official calls it the group’s ‘biggest security breach’ in nearly a year of cross-border fire with Israel.

At least eight people were killed and 2,750 were wounded by exploding handheld pagers across Lebanon, the country’s health minister has said.

Firass Abiad said 200 people are in critical condition after the communication devices exploded on Tuesday, and more than 150 hospitals are treating the victims.

Hezbollah said in an earlier statement on Tuesday that two of its fighters and a girl were killed as “pagers belonging to employees of various Hezbollah units and institutions exploded,” and said it was carrying out an investigation to determine the causes of the blasts.

A Hezbollah official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the explosion of the pagers was the “biggest security breach” the group has experienced in nearly a year of almost daily cross-border fire with Israel.