20 wounded as explosion hits Israel school expedition near Lebanon border: officials

An explosion on Monday injured around 20 people, some severely, as a group of Israeli high school students were hiking near the Lebanese border, according to officials. The military has dispatched soldiers and helicopters to the scene in northern Israel, an area where Israeli forces have been conducting airstrikes on Lebanon. Hezbollah has previously fired rockets from Lebanon across the border.

The Israeli police stated that unexploded ordnance is the initial suspected cause of the blast, resulting in injuries among both students and staff from a religious high school who were participating in an excursion. The incident occurred in the northern city of Maalot-Tarshiha, where the municipality reported that eight of the injuries were classified as serious or moderate, with paramedics currently treating the wounded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled plans and is overseeing assessments regarding the "severe incident," as his office confirmed. He instructed that the injured be evacuated to hospitals as swiftly as possible and continues to hold ongoing evaluations. The military provided assistance on the ground, while air force helicopters are en route.