At least eight dead and thousands injured from exploding pagers in Lebanon, officials say
I've heard of batteries exploding because of faulty charging gear, but how can they be detonated deliberately like a grenade?At least eight people have been killed - including members of the militant group Hezbollah - and more than 2,700 injured after hundreds of pagers exploded in Lebanon, officials have said.
Hezbollah has said it holds Israel "fully responsible" for Tuesday's attack.
In a statement, the group said: "This criminal and treacherous enemy will definitely receive a fair punishment for this sinful assault, both in ways that are expected and unexpected."
The Israeli military did not respond when approached for comment.
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Lebanon's health minister, Firas Abiad, said at least eight people were killed and 2,750 injured - 200 of them critically.
Iranian state news reported that its ambassador to Lebanon was among those injured.
Photos and videos shared on social media showed people in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, with wounds to their hands and lower bodies.
One video shared online appears to show an explosion injuring a man as he shopped at a supermarket.
An apparent explosion can be seen coming from the man's right pocket, ripping apart a bag he was carrying and sending him to the floor injured.
Nearby shoppers can also be seen running for cover after the explosion.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah previously warned the group's members not to carry pagers - communications devices which receive and display voice messages.
He said they could be used by Israel to track their movements and carry out targeted strikes.
Lebanon's Health Ministry alerted all hospitals to take in emergency patients, and for people who own pagers to get away from them. It also asked health workers to avoid using wireless devices.
A separate Hezbollah official said that new pagers given to Hezbollah members contained lithium batteries, which, when overheated, can smoke, melt and, on occasion, catch fire.
Rechargeable lithium batteries - which, when set alight, can burn up to 590C - are used in a range of products, including mobile phones, laptops and electric cars.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between Lebanon and Israel.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been clashing near-daily for more than 11 months against the backdrop of war between Israel and proscribed terror group Hamas in Gaza.
The clashes have killed hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border.
On Tuesday, Israel said halting Hezbollah's attacks in the north to allow residents to return to their homes is now an official war goal.
Statistics: Posted by EnterpriseSovereign — 2024-09-17 01:39pm