Hezbollah hit by pager blasts in Lebanon & Syria

'9 dead and thousands injured' in apparent attack

- SIMON MURPHY and CHRIS HUGHES

A YOUNG girl is said to be among those killed when hundreds of pagers carried by members of Hezbollah exploded in what seems to be a sophisticated attack.

Officials say at least nine people died and nearly 2,800 were wounded - 200 of them critically after the devices blew up almost simultaneously yesterday across Lebanon and in parts of Syria.

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon is reportedly among those injured.

There have been near-daily clashes between Lebanese militant group Hezbollah an ally of Hamas - and Israel for over 11 months against the backdrop of war in Gaza.