Israel’s alleged involvement in the deadly explosions that rocked Lebanon on Tuesday has raised concerns about the escalation of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Lebanese authorities reported that at least 12 civilians were killed and over 2,800 people injured in the explosions. The Lebanese Health Minister stated that around 460 of the injuries were critical and required surgery. Most victims suffered from eye and facial injuries, while others had injuries to their hands and fingers.
Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, said it is conducting a “security and scientific investigation” into the pager explosions. They accused Israel of being responsible for the attacks and vowed to seek revenge for the “massacre.” Hezbollah claimed that 11 of its members were killed in the explosions but did not provide details on how they died.
The Israeli government has not commented on its alleged involvement in the attacks. However, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that they conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been high since members of the Iranian-backed group began cross-border attacks in support of Hamas during the Gaza conflict.
The explosions in Lebanon have prompted chaos in the capital city of Beirut and other areas in Hezbollah’s heartland. Hospitals in Beirut quickly reached capacity, and patients had to be redirected to other hospitals outside the region. The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured in the explosions. He expressed solidarity with Lebanon and called the attacks a “horrific terrorist crime.”
The situation has led to the closure of schools across Lebanon, and the Lebanese Council of Ministers condemned the attacks as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon also condemned the attacks, calling them an “extremely concerning escalation.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a press conference in Egypt, stated that the US was not involved in the attacks and urged all parties to avoid actions that could further escalate the conflict.
The alleged Israeli operation and the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict have raised fears of a broader escalation. Israeli officials have threatened to launch a new military operation against Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border. The US and the European Union have designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is expected to address the situation in a public statement. The situation remains volatile, and efforts are being made to defuse the tensions and reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which could help alleviate the situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
