At least eight people have been killed and more than 2,750 people, including members of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were injured on Tuesday when their communication pagers mysteriously exploded across Lebanon and in parts of Syria.
The eight people killed include a 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member and the son of a Hezbollah MP. Iranian media outlet Mehr News reported that Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, was also injured in the pager blast in Beirut. He is said to be “conscious and in no danger.”
Lebanese media speculated that pagers were allegedly hacked by Israeli intelligence services, causing the batteries to overheat and then explode.
Videos and photos circulating on social media appear to show wounded individuals sitting or lying on the floor, while others are being rushed to hospitals.
CCTV footage shared by the Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik shows a man inside a store with a sudden explosion from a side bag he was carrying. He collapses to the floor immediately after the blast, while others in the store panic and flee.
Dozens of people have been injured in Lebanon as a result of an electronic attack, Sputnik’s correspondent reportsAl Jazeera reports hacking and simultaneous undermining of Hezbollah’s encrypted communications network pic.twitter.com/IgJBTBhM78
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 17, 2024
The wave of explosions continued for about an hour after the initial detonations, which occurred around 3:45 p.m. local time (1345 GMT). It was not immediately clear how the devices were detonated.
Lebanese internal security forces reported that several wireless communication devices were detonated across Lebanon, particularly in the southern suburbs of Beirut, resulting in numerous injuries.
‘High alert’
In a statement, the health ministry urged “all hospitals in areas near the locations of the injured to be on high alert and increase their level of preparedness,” and called for “all health workers to urgently report to their workplaces” to provide assistance.
The Lebanese Red Cross said it was on “high alert” in a statement shared on X. “More than 30 Ambulances from the #LebaneseRedCross are responding to multiple bombings across South Lebanon, Bekaa Valley and the Southern Suburbs of Beirut . All our stations across Mount Lebanon and Beirut are on high alert!,” the post read.
More than 30 Ambulances from the #LebaneseRedCross are responding to multiple bombings across South Lebanon, Bekaa Valley and the Southern Suburbs of Beirut . All our stations across Mount Lebanon and Beirut are on high alert! pic.twitter.com/oUifZMARMw— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) September 17, 2024
‘Biggest security breach’
A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the pager detonations as the “biggest security breach” the group has faced in nearly a year of conflict with Israel, as per news agency Reuters.
The agency also reported that one of its journalists witnessed ambulances rushing through the southern suburbs of Beirut amid widespread panic. Residents reported explosions occurring even 30 minutes after the initial blasts.
The journalist noted that groups of people gathered at building entrances, checking on acquaintances who might have been injured.
Attack amid tensions with Israel
Officials have blamed Israel for what seems to be a sophisticated, remote attack amid escalating tensions along the Lebanon border.
However, there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has been engaged in conflict with Hezbollah since the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that triggered the Gaza war, marking the worst escalation in years.
The incident also came hours after Israel’s security cabinet made the safe return of 60,000 residents displaced in the north by Hezbollah attacks an official war goal, according to the BBC.
“The security cabinet has updated the objectives of the war to include the following: Returning the residents of the north securely to their homes,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. “Israel will continue to act to implement this objective.”
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned the group’s members not to carry cellphones, citing concerns that they could be used by Israel to track their movements and carry out targeted strikes.
(With inputs from agencies)
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