On Tuesday, eight Hezbollah members were killed when their paging devices exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, in what a Hezbollah source called an “Israeli breach” of their communications.
The explosions injured approximately 2,750 people in Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon, marking the first such incident since the group intensified its involvement in daily fire exchanges with Israel to support Hamas.
The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was injured in one of the blasts but sustained superficial injuries, as reported by Iranian state television, as said the Gulf News.
Earlier that day, Israel announced it was broadening its war aims to include Hezbollah along the northern border, following the ongoing conflict with Hamas since October 7.
Israel’s Security Cabinet declared the objective of allowing residents in northern Israel to safely return to their homes, adding Hezbollah to its list of threats in the conflict.
Since October, clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah have killed hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, displacing thousands on both sides.
Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed hundreds of injuries from the Tuesday explosions, with many Hezbollah members affected in Beirut and southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah had warned its members against using mobile phones, opting for its internal communications system to prevent Israeli hacking.
On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said military action was necessary to secure northern Israel. The next day, an Israeli strike killed three Hezbollah members in Lebanon.
Despite Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, stating that the group had no intention of full-scale war, Israel’s actions suggest the conflict could escalate further.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar vowed continued “resistance” in coordination with regional allies, such as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as fighting intensifies.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to return to the region to push for a ceasefire, but US-Israel talks have yet to secure an agreement.
Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 41,252 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while the UN prepares to debate a resolution calling for an end to Israeli occupation within a year.