Attack on Hezbollah pagers injures hundreds across Lebanon, including Iran's ambassador
Hundreds were injured in explosions across Lebanon on 17 September, targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members. Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among the wounded.
Hundreds of people were injured on 17 September 2024, in an attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon. The explosions affected multiple regions, with dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly wounded. Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured, according to Iranian state media, suffering a superficial injury. He remains under observation in a Beirut hospital, per IRNA. The Lebanese Ministry of Health has issued urgent warnings to citizens to discard pager devices and instructed hospitals to be on "high alert." The ministry also called for blood donations due to the large number of casualties being transferred to hospitals. The explosions primarily impacted Hezbollah strongholds, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Beqaa valley towns of Ali Al-Nahri and Riyaq. The blasts are believed to be the result of "hacked" pager devices, according to Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces and the state media outlet NNA.
In addition to Ambassador Amani, two Iranian embassy employees were injured, as reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. Footage from CCTV and social media showed the severity of the blasts. In one clip, a man in a supermarket was caught in an explosion, dropping to the ground in pain. Other videos from Lebanese hospitals depicted the overwhelming number of injured, including children with facial and hand injuries. The Israeli military, which has engaged in conflict with Hezbollah amid the ongoing Gaza war since October 2023, declined to comment on the incident.
