Iran's ambassador to Lebanon loses eye in pager explosions blamed on Israel

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, lost one eye and suffered severe injuries to the other when a pager he was carrying exploded in a coordinated attack on Hezbollah members across Lebanon.

The explosion, believed to be part of a larger operation attributed to Israel, took place on Tuesday, according to The New York Times.

The incident has heightened tensions in the region, already on edge after recent escalations. At least nine people were killed and around 3,000 others including Hezbollah fighters and medics were wounded

Initial reports from Qatari state media claimed Amani’s injuries were superficial, but Iranian outlets and sources within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later confirmed the severity of the injuries.

Amani is expected to be flown to Tehran for further medical treatment. Two of his bodyguards were also injured in the blast.

The explosions, reportedly caused by tampered pagers, occurred in Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon.

Hundreds of Hezbollah members were injured in the southern suburbs of Beirut, sparking panic among supporters of the Iran-backed militant group.

Reuters journalists witnessed dozens of wounded Hezbollah members being treated for serious injuries.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the attack and expressed readiness to evacuate the injured ambassador and other victims for treatment in Iran.

Hezbollah has accused Israel of orchestrating the blasts, amidst an already tense climate following attacks led by Hamas against Israel in October 2023.

Reports suggest the pagers, used by Hezbollah operatives, emitted beeps for several seconds before detonating, leading to injuries primarily to the head and face.

The explosions have been described as part of a broader technological warfare tactic, replacing conventional combat with remote-triggered devices.

These attacks come just hours after Israel’s Shin Bet revealed an assassination attempt against a former Israeli defence official, further fuelling tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.

Iran has vowed retaliation for both the attacks on its ambassador and previous incidents involving Hezbollah leaders.

As the situation continues to unfold, regional tensions remain high, with the possibility of further escalations.