Hezbollah Pagers Explode in Coordinated Attack in Lebanon
In an unprecedented attack, hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon exploded almost simultaneously on Tuesday, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries, CNN reports.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, claimed that the wireless devices were targeted in an Israeli attack that occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time. CNN sources have confirmed Israel’s involvement, indicating a joint operation between the Mossad and the Israeli military.
The Lebanese government has condemned the attack as “criminal Israeli aggression.” Israel’s military has declined to comment.
The detonated pagers were recently purchased by Hezbollah, according to Lebanese security sources. A Taiwanese manufacturer, Gold Apollo, has acknowledged that the pagers bore its mark but clarified that they were made by a European distributor named BAC.
Experts have stressed the magnitude and severity of the attack, as it has significantly compromised Hezbollah’s communication network. The explosions affected densely populated areas of Beirut, particularly the southern suburbs, a stronghold for the militant group.
Footage from the scene shows people collapsing in the streets, with visible injuries including lost fingers, eye damage, and abdominal lacerations. At least nine individuals, including a child, were killed, and some 2,800 sustained injuries, overwhelming Lebanese hospitals.
As Lebanon grapples with the aftermath of the attack, speculation has arisen regarding how the low-tech devices could have been used for such a devastating explosion. The New York Times has reported that Israel planted explosives inside a batch of pagers destined for Hezbollah, with a remote detonation switch.
Multiple images shared on social media in Lebanon appear to show damaged Gold Apollo pagers, some of which are identified as the AR924 model.
According to Taiwanese security officials, Gold Apollo has shipped around 260,000 pagers from January 2022 to August 2024, but there is no record of them being sent to Lebanon or the Middle East.
