9 Killed, 2,800 Wounded as Pagers Explode Across Lebanon; Hezbollah Accuses Israel
A tragic incident has unfolded in Lebanon, where synchronized explosions of pager devices claimed the lives of nine individuals and injured more than 2,800. The explosions primarily targeted Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran and classified as a terrorist organization by the United States. Among those injured was Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani. The blasts, which occurred around 3:30 pm local time, hit several Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the casualties, noting that a young girl was among the deceased. In addition to the thousands of injuries, more than 200 people are reported to be in critical condition. The minister further elaborated that most of the injuries involved the face, hands, and stomach.
Reports indicate that the incident impacted Hezbollah members directly. The ten-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member was one of the victims in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. In Syria, where Hezbollah maintains a presence, an independent monitor reported 14 additional injuries from similar pager explosions.
Hezbollah, which has been engaged in active conflict with Israel since October 2023 in support of Hamas, quickly placed the blame on Israel for what they describe as a major security breach. The group stated that the explosions were triggered by either an electronic signal breach, leading to the overheating of lithium batteries, or the placement of explosives within the pagers. Hezbollah, however, remains in the midst of an extensive investigation and urged caution regarding rumors that could contribute to psychological warfare.
The incident marks the largest security threat faced by Hezbollah since it began daily confrontations with Israel in Gaza. According to a source close to Hezbollah, dozens of members were injured in Beirut’s southern suburbs and the south of Lebanon. While Lebanon’s National News Agency referred to the incident as “an unprecedented enemy security breach,” Hezbollah’s internal communication system has also come under scrutiny.
Hezbollah utilizes its own telecommunications network and has advised its members to avoid using mobile phones since the onset of the Gaza conflict last year, aiming to prevent Israeli interception. The organization’s official statement acknowledged the explosions at 3:30 pm, explicitly holding Israel responsible. According to their claims, a girl and her two brothers were among the fatalities, while numerous others were wounded. Hezbollah’s statement urged the public to remain vigilant against misinformation that could serve Israel’s interests.
Outside Lebanon, similar explosions occurred in Syria, where at least one pager detonated in a vehicle in Damascus, injuring four individuals.
As the situation continues to develop, there have been differing accounts of what caused these explosions. Some sources suggest that an electronic signal breach led to an overheating of lithium batteries, while others claim that a thin layer of explosives had been embedded within the pagers. The conflicting narratives highlight the complexity and potential sophistication behind this attack. However, these claims remain unverified, with Hezbollah still probing the exact cause of the blasts.
A pager is a wireless telecommunications device that was widely used in the 1990s and early 2000s. Its purpose was to transmit text and alphanumeric messages. These devices could either beep, vibrate, or flash to alert the user of incoming messages. More advanced two-way pagers could respond to messages using the ReFLEX protocol developed in the mid-1990s. However, this communication method is not encrypted, making it vulnerable to interception. It is not known what encryption methods Hezbollah used, if any.
As of now, Israel has not responded to the allegations, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the motives and methods behind these pager explosions.