Pagers used by members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria, killing at least nine people, including an 8-year-old girl, and injuring around 2,750, with 200 in critical condition, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, AP News reports.
The Lebanese government and Hezbollah blamed Israel for the attack. The pagers were reportedly rigged with small explosives, which were detonated remotely. The explosions occurred mainly in Hezbollah strongholds and among the wounded was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. Hezbollah vowed retaliation. Israel has not commented on the incident, though US officials confirmed that Israel briefed them after the operation concluded.
The attack raised questions about how the pagers were rigged with explosives. Experts suggested that Israel’s Mossad likely infiltrated the supply chain and planted the explosives before the devices were delivered to Lebanon.
