September 17th 2024.
In a shocking and tragic turn of events, it has been reported that pagers used by members of the militant group Hezbollah have exploded almost simultaneously in both Lebanon and Syria. The blasts have claimed the lives of at least nine people, including a young eight-year-old girl, and have left thousands wounded. Officials have placed the blame on Israel, suggesting that this could be a sophisticated and remote attack.
Among the victims is Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, who was wounded during the incident on Tuesday. This strange and mysterious occurrence comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been engaged in cross-border fire since October 7th. The war in Gaza, sparked by an attack from Hamas, has only added fuel to the fire between these two opposing forces.
It has been revealed that the pagers that exploded were newly acquired by Hezbollah after their leader issued a warning to stop using mobile phones due to the risk of being tracked by Israeli intelligence. A Hezbollah official has disclosed that these were a new brand of pagers that the group had not used before.
According to reports, around 3:30 pm local time on Tuesday, the pagers began to heat up and then suddenly exploded in the pockets and hands of those carrying them. The majority of these blasts occurred in a southern suburb of Beirut and the Beqaa region in eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. However, explosions were also reported in Damascus, where several Hezbollah members were injured. A Lebanese security official and a Hezbollah source, speaking on condition of anonymity, have confirmed these details to the Associated Press.
When contacted, the Israeli military declined to comment on the situation. The explosions took place just hours after Israel's internal security agency announced that they had foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to assassinate a former senior Israeli security official. The plot involved a planted explosive device that could be detonated remotely.
Experts have noted that the pager explosions appear to be a well-planned operation, although the exact methods used are still unknown. Investigators have not yet determined how the pagers were detonated or if explosives were somehow hidden inside them.
The effects of this attack were widespread, with hundreds of small explosions occurring simultaneously, leaving many people severely injured. One video that has been circulating online shows a man shopping at a grocery store when the bag he is carrying explodes, sending him to the ground and causing panic among bystanders. Hospitals in the area have been overwhelmed with patients, many of whom have lost limbs or suffered severe injuries to their hands and abdomen.
The health minister of Lebanon, Firas Abiad, has reported that at least nine people were killed, including a young girl, and over 2700 were wounded, with 200 in critical condition. Most of the injuries were to the face, hand, and abdomen. Hezbollah has confirmed that two of their members were among the dead, including the son of a parliament member.
In a statement, Hezbollah has condemned the attack and held Israel responsible, promising that they will face punishment for their actions. The Iranian state-run IRNA news agency has confirmed that Iran's ambassador, Mojtaba Amani, was superficially wounded by an exploding pager and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
It is worth noting that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned his members not to carry mobile phones, as they could be used by Israel to track their movements and carry out targeted strikes. The images of the explosions on Tuesday suggest that there was a deliberate effort to target these individuals, according to Alex Plitsas, a weapons expert at the Atlantic Council.
The explosions have raised questions about how Israel may have been aware of a shipment of pagers to Hezbollah and managed to modify them before delivery. Another theory suggests that an electronic pulse may have been sent from a distance to ignite the pagers and cause them to explode. Either way, this was a deliberate and premeditated act.
Israel has a history of carrying out deadly operations behind enemy lines. In January, a senior Hamas official was killed in an airstrike in Beirut, while in July, Israel launched a successful attack on Hezbollah's top commander. The same day, Hamas' leader died in a mysterious explosion in Iran, also believed to be the work of Israel. It is believed that Israel has used booby-trapped mobile phones in the past to assassinate Hamas militants and was responsible for the Stuxnet computer virus attack on Iran's nuclear program in 2010.
The timing of these explosions is particularly tense, as clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been ongoing for the past eleven months. These clashes have resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. Israel has now declared halting Hezbollah's attacks in the north as an official war goal, in order to allow residents to return to their homes.
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