At least nine people are dead and more than 300 injured after hand-held radios used by Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah detonated late on Wednesday (September 18) afternoon, according to reports.
A security source said the explosions happened across the country's south and the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut.
The explosions came a day after twelve people were killed after a widescale attack on Hezbollah operatives unfolded across Lebanon and Syria.
Two children were among the dead and more than 3,000 people were wounded after thousands of pagers exploded simultaneously across the country in the carefully planned attack.
Pagers are small electronic devices that receive and display messages or alerts, commonly used before the widespread adoption of mobile phones for communication, especially in emergency and professional settings.
Senior sources alleged to Reuters that Israel’s Mossad (the Israeli national intelligence agency) was behind the brutal attack having implanted the explosives into the devices months before this week’s detonation.
Israel has not yet commented officially on the incidents.
The UN rights chief, Volker Türk, has demanded accountability, calling them a breach of international human rights law.
“Simultaneous targeting of thousands of individuals, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge as to who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law and, to the extent applicable, international humanitarian law,” Mr Türk said.
The international community has also voiced its condemnation, with Ireland’s deputy premier Micheal Martin calling it a “wanton disregard” for human life.
He said: “The nature of the attack illustrates a wanton disregard for the lives of people because these pagers with explosives put into them went off in public areas and supermarkets and around people going out about their daily lives.
“It meant that many innocent civilians — men, women, and children — were caught up in this.”
Some people are calling the incidents terrorist attacks on Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist group by other parts of the world.
Here’s what you need to know about the group.
What is Hezbollah?
Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim political party and militant group that operates primarily out of Lebanon. Formed in the early 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War, it opposes Israel’s presence in the region and has a long history of conflict with its neighbour.
Hezbollah has become a significant political force within Lebanon, with military and social service wings.
The group’s leader has claimed that Hezbollah has more than 100,000 trained fighters, although these numbers are difficult to verify. It is backed by Iran, which provides it with financial aid, weapons, and military training, driven largely by shared opposition to Western influence in the region.
Hezbollah also supports Palestinian resistance groups, particularly in Gaza. While conflicts in Gaza have resulted in significant casualties over the years, the numbers do not reach the tens of thousands within short periods.
Hezbollah is identified as a terrorist organisation by several countries, including the US, the UK, and many others, though it is not universally labelled as such.
Who is the Hezbollah leader?
Hezbollah’s leader is Hassan Nasrallah, an Islamic cleric who has been at the helm since 1992. This followed the death of the previous leader, Abbas al-Musawi.
The Middle East Eye called Mr Nasrallah “one of the most powerful Arab Shia figures in the Middle East”.
Under his command, Hezbollah has significantly expanded its military capabilities and political influence, not only in Lebanon but also in regional conflicts, particularly in Syria and against Israel.
Where does Hezbollah operate?
Hezbollah primarily operates out of Lebanon, where it has its political base and military infrastructure. Its main area of influence within Lebanon is the Beqaa Valley, Beirut's southern suburbs (Dahieh), and the southern regions of Lebanon, near the border with Israel.
Within Lebanon, Hezbollah serves both as a political party and a military force, maintaining a network of social services, hospitals, and schools that garner significant support among the Shia Muslim population.
Outside Lebanon, Hezbollah has a presence and operational capabilities in various regions:
- Syria: Hezbollah has been heavily involved in the Syrian Civil War, providing military support to the government of President Bashar al-Assad. It has deployed fighters to combat rebel and extremist groups, significantly bolstering the Syrian government's position in the conflict.
- Israel-Palestine: While Hezbollah does not directly operate in Gaza or the West Bank, it supports Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, by providing funding, weapons, and training.
- Global Operations: Hezbollah is believed to have cells and networks in other parts of the world, including Latin America, Africa, and Europe. These networks are primarily used for fundraising, logistics, and intelligence gathering. Its global operations have been a point of concern for many countries, leading to its designation as a terrorist organisation by the US, the UK, and other nations.
- Iran: While Hezbollah does not operate militarily in Iran, it maintains strong connections with the Iranian government, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which provides the group with financial support, training, and weaponry.
In 2017, the group was forced to deny that it had sent weapons to Yemen and the Houthi movement operating there.
