Hezbollah has accused Israel of triggering explosions in pagers across several of its strongholds in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of twelve people and nearly 3,000 injuries, as reported by the health ministry. The health minister stated that the casualty count has increased to twelve, following the detonation of hundreds of paging devices. Initially, Hezbollah reported nine fatalities and approximately 2,750 wounded, including both fighters and Iran's envoy to Beirut.

On Wednesday, Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the updated toll after consulting hospitals, indicating that the number of injured ranged between 2,750 and 2,800. Hezbollah’s statement acknowledged that among the deceased were at least two fighters and a young girl. Some of the injured required treatment in Syria, while others were evacuated to Iran.

Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the afternoon detonations of the pagers—devices commonly used by Hezbollah and others in Lebanon for communication—as "Israeli aggression." Hezbollah vowed to retaliate, asserting that Israel would face "its fair punishment" for the attacks. Meanwhile, the Israeli military, which has been engaged in ongoing conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah since the onset of the Gaza war in October, refrained from commenting on the situation. The explosions occurred primarily in southern Lebanon, including the Dahiyeh area of Beirut and the eastern Bekaa Valley, all known strongholds of Hezbollah.

In a notable incident, closed-circuit surveillance footage released by regional broadcasters captured a person making a payment at a grocery store when a small handheld device placed next to the cashier suddenly exploded. A Hezbollah official, who requested anonymity, described the detonation of these pagers as the “biggest security breach” for the group during nearly a year of ongoing conflict with Israel.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, currently engaged in warfare with Israel in Gaza, labeled the pager explosions as an "escalation," warning that it would only lead Israel to "failure and defeat." The US State Department indicated that it was premature to assess how these attacks in Lebanon might affect efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza. It called on Iran—along with its allies, including Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq—forming an "Axis of Resistance" against Israeli and US influence, not to exploit the situation to sow further instability.

While the Israeli military did not directly comment on the explosions, a spokesperson noted that Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi had convened senior officers to evaluate the situation. Although no changes to policy were announced, he emphasized the need for continued vigilance.

Hezbollah fighters have reportedly been using pagers as a low-tech communication method, believing this would help them evade Israeli tracking. Pagers, wireless devices that receive and display messages, have been integral to their operations.

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, sustained a "superficial injury" in the recent pager blasts and is currently under observation in a hospital, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, though Reuters has yet to verify this report. Among the casualties were Hezbollah fighters, including the sons of senior officials within the group. Notably, one of the deceased was the son of Ali Ammar, a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament.

This attack isn't merely about targeting a few individuals; it is an assault on an entire nation," stated senior Hezbollah official Hussein Khalil while expressing his condolences for Ammar's loss. Lebanese broadcaster Al Jadeed reported Ammar as vowing to respond decisively, saying, "We will engage the enemy in the language it understands.

Tuesday's explosions further contributed to the heavy toll Hezbollah has faced over the past year, with the group reportedly losing more than 400 fighters due to Israeli strikes, including the death of top commander Fuad Shukr in July. On the same day, security sources indicated that two additional Hezbollah fighters were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.

Earlier, Israel's domestic security agency announced it had thwarted a plot by Hezbollah to assassinate a former senior defense official in the coming days. The Shin Bet agency, which did not disclose the identity of the official, reported the seizure of an explosive device connected to a remote detonation system that Hezbollah intended to operate from Lebanon.

While Hezbollah has expressed a desire to avoid a full-scale conflict with Israel, they assert that the ongoing cross-border skirmishes will only cease with an end to the Gaza war. Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza remain stalled after months of negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

Friends and relatives of the injured gathered at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) following the explosion of Hezbollah members' wireless devices in Beirut. After the blasts, ambulances rushed through the southern suburbs of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold, as panic spread throughout the area. At Mount Lebanon Hospital, located just outside the city, a Reuters reporter witnessed emergency motorcycles arriving with patients, some exhibiting bloodied hands and screaming in pain.

Hassan Wazni, the head of the Nabatieh public hospital in southern Lebanon, reported that approximately 40 wounded individuals were receiving treatment at his facility, with injuries affecting the face, eyes, and limbs.

In the wake of the attacks on October 7 by Hamas gunmen, which ignited the current Gaza conflict, Hezbollah had retaliated by firing missiles at Israel. Since then, the two sides have engaged in ongoing exchanges of fire while largely avoiding a full-scale escalation. The violence has led to the displacement of tens of thousands from towns and villages on both sides of the border. On Tuesday, Israel reiterated its war objectives, emphasizing the need for displaced citizens to return to their homes near the Lebanese border.