BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) – Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said eight people were killed and some 2,750 wounded in pager explosions across the country Tuesday, with Hezbollah earlier saying the pagers were used by its members.

The blasts “killed eight people, including a girl”, he told a televised press conference. “About 2,750 people were injured… more than 200 of them critically” with injuries mostly reported to the face, hands and stomach, he added.

Iran’s ambassador to Beirut was also wounded in the pager explosion. His injuries were not serious, state media reported.

“Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani was injured in a pager explosion,” state television said, adding that his wounds were “superficial” and that he was “conscious and in no danger”.

Pagers belonging to members of Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously Tuesday, wounding hundreds of its members across the country.

A source close to the group, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, blamed the blasts on an “Israeli breach” of its communications.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli forces since its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking war in Gaza.