Hezbollah Vows Retaliation Against Israel After Deadly Pager Explosions in Lebanon

Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel following a series of deadly explosions on Tuesday that killed at least eight people and injured 2,750 others, including many of the group's fighters and Iran's envoy to Beirut. Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the attacks, which involved detonated pagers used by Hezbollah and other groups, labeling them as “Israeli aggression.”

Hezbollah has promised "fair punishment" for Israel, describing the incident as the "biggest security breach" the group has faced in nearly a year of conflict with Israel. The explosions occurred in southern Lebanon, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, all known Hezbollah strongholds.

The Israeli military, engaged in ongoing cross-border conflict with Hezbollah since the start of the Gaza war last October, declined to comment on the detonations. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi met with senior officers to assess the situation but made no changes to current policies, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported that 2,750 people were wounded, with 200 in critical condition. Among the casualties were Hezbollah fighters, including the son of Hezbollah member Ali Ammar. Hezbollah official Hussein Khalil condemned the attacks as targeting an entire nation, while Ammar vowed to respond to what he described as Israeli aggression.

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, reportedly suffered a "superficial injury" in the blasts and is under observation in hospital. Meanwhile, Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet, revealed it had thwarted a Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior defense official, further escalating tensions.

The U.N. has expressed concern over the volatile situation and deplored the civilian casualties. Regional reports indicate widespread panic and casualties following the explosions, with ambulances rushing to hospitals and people huddling to check on loved ones.