More device explosions were reported across Lebanon on Wednesday, a day after pagers belonging to Hezbollah members detonated across the country, killing at least 12 people and injuring nearly 3,000, state media reported.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, or NNA, “a number” of wounded people had been taken to hospitals in the southern suburbs of Beirut after their wireless pagers exploded.
At least three people were killed in device explosions Wednesday, NNA reported.
Al-Manar, a Hezbollah-affiliated news agency, reported that wireless devices exploded in people’s hands across the country.
The Associated Press reported that its own journalists were in Beirut at a funeral for four people killed by exploding pagers the day before when they heard “multiple explosions at the site.”
Ambulances arrived at the scene, the AP journalists said.
Two U.S. officials said Israel was behind the attack targeting Hezbollah with exploding pagers on Tuesday. The militant group and Lebanese officials also pinned blame on Israel, which has not taken responsibility publicly.
It was unclear why Israel carried out the attack when it did and whether it was an opportunistic operation or something more strategic that would be followed by other actions, the officials said.
Lebanon’s Public Health Minister Dr. Firas Abiad said that 12 people were killed in Tuesday’s attack, including an 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. More than 2,700 were injured, with an estimated 10% in critical condition, according to National News Agency.
This is a breaking news story, please check back for updates.
