Guterres, speaking from UN headquarters in New York, urged governments to ensure that civilian objects remain under control and are not used for military purposes. He also warned of the risk of further escalation in Lebanon and called for urgent measures to avoid more violence.
The explosions happened shortly after Israel expanded its military objectives in Gaza to confront Hezbollah, a key ally of Hamas. Lebanese media reported that the blasts involved walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, with similar incidents occurring across Beirut and other parts of the country.
On Wednesday, additional explosions killed at least nine people and wounded 300. Hezbollah, which has been trading fire with Israeli forces in support of Hamas, blamed Israel for the pager blasts and vowed retaliation. Israel has yet to respond to the accusations.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk also condemned the attacks, calling for accountability. He highlighted that the simultaneous targeting of individuals without knowing who possessed the devices or their surroundings violates international human rights and humanitarian law.
