FM Fidan discusses pager blasts with Lebanese PM Mikati
People gather outside American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) as more than 1,000 people, including medics, were wounded when the pagers they use to communicate exploded across Lebanon, in Beirut, Sept. 17, 2024. (Reuters Photo)


Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the deadly pager blasts in Lebanon with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, as he extended Türkiye's condolences over the incident.

According to diplomatic sources, the discussion focused on the details of the explosions and their aftermath.

Earlier, at least nine people, including a child, were killed in a mass explosion of the pager devices in different areas across Lebanon, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firas Al-Abiad.


He added that some 2,750 other people were also injured, including 200 in critical condition.


Pagers, often used by civilians and health care workers for communication, are small, battery-powered wireless devices that receive text messages, audio, and visual signals.

Hezbollah confirmed that at least two members were killed and many injured in the mass explosion and held Israel fully responsible for the incident, vowing ‘just retaliation from unexpected quarters’ to Israel.

The mass explosion of pagers came amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel against the backdrop of a brutal Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 41,200 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack Oct. 7 last year.