Iran Accuses Israel of "Mass Murder" After Deadly Blasts in Lebanon
A wave of explosions in Lebanon on Tuesday, targeting paging devices belonging to the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group, has left a trail of destruction and loss of life. According to reports, nine people were killed and nearly 3,000 others wounded, including Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani.
The incident has sparked outrage in Iran, with Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanani condemning the "terrorist act" and calling it an example of "mass murder". Kanani expressed solidarity with the families of those killed and wounded, including the Iranian ambassador, who suffered injuries to his hand and face. State television reported that Amani was only lightly injured.
The Iranian Red Crescent has dispatched rescue teams and eye surgeons to Lebanon to treat the wounded. There has been no immediate comment from Israel on the explosions, which came just hours after the country announced it was broadening its aims to include its fight against Hezbollah along the border with Lebanon.
The blasts are seen as a significant escalation of the conflict, which was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Iran has long been a strong ally of Hezbollah, and the incident has further strained relations between Iran and Israel.
Kanani urged the international community to act quickly to counter the "impunity of the Zionist criminal authorities" and "combating the terrorist acts of the (Israeli) regime and the threats arising from them is an obvious necessity".
The incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region and the devastating consequences of conflict. As the world watches, the situation continues to unfold, with questions remaining about the motivation behind the blasts and the impact on the region.
