At least nine people are dead and over 2,750 people were injured after pagers belonging to militant group Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to Lebanese officials.
The attack comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression, which also targeted civilians and led to the deaths of a number of martyrs and the injury of a large number with various wounds,” Hezbollah said in a statement. “This treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly receive his just punishment for this sinful aggression, whether he expects it or not.”
“These explosions, the causes of which are still unknown, led to the martyrdom of a girl and two brothers, and the injury of a large number of people with various injuries,” Hezbollah said in a statement.
More than 200 people were in critical condition after the blasts, Public Health Minister Dr. Firas Abiad told reporters.
Muhammad Mahdi, the son of Ali Ammar, a Hezbollah member of Parliament, was one of those killed, according to the National News Agency.
In a second statement, Hezbollah said it had reviewed “all the facts” and information and held Israel responsible for the explosions, vowing revenge.
The U.S. said it had no role in the apparent attack on Hezbollah and no warning that it would happen, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
The White House also said it was not aware the attack was going to happen ahead of time and would not speculate on who was behind it.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke again on Tuesday after speaking on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that his security Cabinet had updated its list of war objectives.
“Israel will continue to act to implement this objective,” the prime minister’s office said.
