Lebanon’s Minister of Education, Abbas al-Halabi, has announced the closure of all public and private schools, including universities, in response to a deadly attack involving mass detonations of pagers. The incident, which has resulted in nine deaths and approximately 2,800 injuries, has been condemned by the Lebanese government.
The explosions, which targeted pro-Iranian Hezbollah members, were suspected to be coordinated attacks. Hezbollah has attributed the blasts to Israel and has threatened retaliation. Most victims sustained injuries to their hands, with some also affected in the face, abdomen, and eyes, according to the health ministry.