Lebanon faced another [1] round of explosions [2] on Wednesday as Hezbollah’s communication devices were once again targeted.
Hand-held radios used by the militant group reportedly detonated in southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut.
🚨#BREAKING [3]: Reports are emerging that a new wave of wireless communication devices has exploded. It being reported that Israel has destroyed possibly thousands of personal radios and other devices used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/4PK9vLmapk [4]
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 18, 2024 [5]
This follows a similar incident on Tuesday when pagers used by Hezbollah fighters abruptly exploded, causing widespread injuries, according to multiple reports.
Hezbollah, a group frequently involved in cross-border attacks on Israel, has been significantly impacted by the sudden explosions of its communication devices over the past two days.
While no official confirmation has been provided, Israeli forces are believed to be behind the coordinated attacks, according to various reports.
The Wall Street Journal [6] noted that Wednesday’s explosions involved walkie-talkie devices, unlike the pager devices that detonated the day prior.
A #Hezbollah [7] walkie talkie explodes at a funeral today in #Lebanon [8] after yesterday’s exploding Hezbollah pagers. pic.twitter.com/b8TIfUUBKq [9]
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) September 18, 2024 [10]
The full extent of the damage and the number of injured from Wednesday’s incident remains unclear.
Tuesday’s blasts were especially devastating, with the death toll rising to 12, including two children, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad.
The nearly 3,000 injured included many Hezbollah fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut.
Hospitals in the affected areas were overwhelmed with patients suffering severe injuries, many of whom were reported to have lost limbs or other body parts due to the explosions.
The devices that detonated on Tuesday were reportedly tampered with during their production and shipment.
American officials told The New York Times [11] that explosives were likely planted into the pagers before they reached Hezbollah through a supply chain initially suspected to be in Taiwan.
However, the Taiwanese manufacturer, Gold Apollo, has denied involvement, stating that the pagers were produced under license by BAC, a company based in Budapest, Hungary.
These walkie-talkies, similarly, were said to have been delivered to Hezbollah in recent months.
The nature of these coordinated attacks has led many to believe they were carefully planned over a period of months.
The strikes have caused severe disruptions within Hezbollah, with one official calling the detonations the group’s “biggest security breach” in its history.
Significant damage appears to have been made to a motorcycle after a Hezbollah radio exploded. pic.twitter.com/57JfoWDmaQ [12]
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) September 18, 2024 [13]
The attacks come as Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in escalating cross-border warfare since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 people.
Hezbollah’s subsequent strikes have further destabilized the already volatile border region, prompting counterattacks from Israeli forces.
Israel has yet to officially comment on its involvement in the explosions, and Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate.
According to Reuters, Hezbollah announced that they will respond to what they are calling a “massacre” of their fighters caused by the detonations.
The group, which is closely allied with Iran, has openly supported Hamas in its ongoing conflict with Israel and reiterated that they would continue this support despite the heavy losses they have incurred.
The blasts have exacerbated fears of a wider conflict in the region. Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, accused Israel of escalating tensions, pushing the Middle East toward the brink of a regional war.
#BREAKING [3]: Hundreds of fresh explosions being reported across Lebanon, 24 hours after over 4000 pagers exploded killing 12 and injuring over 3000 Hezbollah terrorists. Fresh explosions are now taking place in hand-held Walkie-Talkie VHF sets used by Hezbollah terrorists. pic.twitter.com/oVLpMLcIxD [14]
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) September 18, 2024 [15]
While Hezbollah has been engaged in limited warfare with Israel along the border, analysts believe the group may be hesitant to enter into a full-scale war, especially given Lebanon’s current political and economic instability.
Lebanon has been grappling with multiple crises, including a financial collapse in 2019 and the Beirut port explosion in 2020, which left the country devastated.
However, pressure is mounting within Hezbollah to escalate their response. “Hezbollah wants to avoid an all-out war,” Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center stated, “but given the scale, the impact on families, on civilians, there will be pressure for a stronger response.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for an independent investigation into the events surrounding the explosions.
The investigation could provide more clarity on the extent of the breach within Hezbollah’s ranks and the methods used to compromise their communication devices.
As tensions continue to rise, both sides remain on high alert. Hezbollah has promised further retaliation, while Israeli forces are reportedly preparing for continued conflict along the northern border.
The potential for an expanded conflict involving regional powers like Iran and the United States remains a significant concern for global stability, particularly in the Middle East.
Original article below:
On Tuesday, more than 1,000 people, including [16] Hezbollah fighters and medics, were injured across Lebanon after a series of explosions [17] involving communication pagers used by Hezbollah, according to security sources.
Lebanese channels are reporting that encrypted pagers for Hezbollah operatives have been compromised and all exploded at the same time.
This is a mass casualty event. pic.twitter.com/yj6zAzpbNo [18]
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 17, 2024 [19]
The explosions, which occurred in various parts of the country, have been described as one of the largest security breaches Hezbollah has faced in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The detonations took place as Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the Gaza conflict erupted in October.
Tensions have been steadily rising between the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israeli forces, leading to ongoing clashes and casualties on both sides.
The cause of the pager explosions remains unclear, though Hezbollah has pointed fingers at Israel.
The pagers, which were distributed to Hezbollah members in recent months, exploded simultaneously across several regions, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of the group.
NEW: Hundreds of Hezbollah members in Lebanon wounded after their pagers exploded according to Reuters.
Fighters and medics were seriously injured.
One Hezbollah official who spoke with Reuters said this was the “biggest security breach” in the past year.
According to local… pic.twitter.com/wbNNleSRla [20]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 17, 2024 [21]
The explosions occurred at around 3:45 p.m. local time, with reports suggesting that the blasts lasted for nearly an hour.
It remains unclear how the devices were triggered, but security sources confirmed that advanced technology was used in the detonation.
A Reuters journalist on the scene witnessed ambulances rushing through Beirut’s southern neighborhoods, where the explosions caused widespread panic.
People with injuries to their faces, hands, and limbs were seen arriving at local hospitals. Dr. Hassan Wazni, head of Nabatieh Public Hospital in southern Lebanon, reported that around 40 injured individuals were being treated for various wounds.
Footage from the aftermath showed several of the explosions occurring near public areas, including grocery stores and markets, further heightening tensions in the region.
Absolute scenes of chaos in Southern Beirut as hundreds of pagers belonging to members of Hezbollah explode.
This is just one location.
Hospital videos show Hezbollah members with various injuries from fingers blown off, hands blown off, and significant eye injuries. pic.twitter.com/U6pKB2Xne4 [22]
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 17, 2024 [23]
Hezbollah operatives flock to the hospitals in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/ogbRyxgUsL [24]
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) September 17, 2024 [25]
The Lebanese Red Cross confirmed that over 50 ambulances and 300 medical personnel were dispatched to assist with evacuating the wounded and providing emergency care.
An anonymous Hezbollah official told Reuters that the detonation of the pagers marked the group’s “biggest security breach” since the conflict with Israel intensified.
He accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, citing the fact that the devices exploded simultaneously in different parts of the country.
The official also noted that the new pagers, which were equipped with lithium batteries, appeared to have been tampered with before being distributed to Hezbollah fighters.
Military analyst Elijah Magnier speculated that the pagers had been targeted because Hezbollah uses them to avoid Israeli interception of communications, a strategy aimed at preventing Israel from tracking movements and conducting targeted strikes.
The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was reportedly injured in one of the blasts, though this could not be independently confirmed by Reuters.
Iran’s Mehr news agency reported the incident, but details about the extent of the ambassador’s injuries remain unknown.
The pager explosions come amid an ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel that has escalated since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.
Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border since October 8, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
Reports indicate that over 500 people, including many Hezbollah fighters, have been killed in Lebanon since the conflict began, while 23 Israeli soldiers and 26 civilians have died in northern Israel due to Hezbollah attacks.
Paging Hezbollah… Oh, wait. 🎇🇮🇱💪💣
The reports are absolutely crazy.
Israel managed to detonate hundreds of communication devices of Hezbollah terrorists all at the same time and across all of Lebanon.
Reports of many of them eliminated and many others severely injured.… pic.twitter.com/OVVv9dx7ZZ [26]
— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) September 17, 2024 [27]
In recent days, Hezbollah has intensified its support for Hamas, with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah receiving a letter of gratitude from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The letter, dated September 13, praised Hezbollah for its continued support in the war against Israel, highlighting the close coordination between the two Iran-backed groups.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
The group’s cross-border attacks are widely seen as part of a broader strategy to pressure Israel from multiple fronts.
For years, Hezbollah and Iran have provided financial and military support to Hamas, and their current actions suggest an ongoing alliance in the fight against Israel.
Lebanese authorities have been coordinating with local and international organizations to handle the fallout from the explosions.
The country’s internal security forces confirmed that a number of wireless communication devices had detonated across Lebanon, particularly in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to injuries.
Hezbollah terrorists pager blew up while he was riding his scooter https://t.co/kmmqB6Kl1L [28] pic.twitter.com/cmCH383Ezu [29]
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 17, 2024 [30]
Hospitals in the region have been overwhelmed with the number of wounded, and the Lebanese health ministry’s crisis operations center called on all medical staff to report to their respective hospitals to help manage the surge in patients.
The Israeli military has declined to comment on the accusations made by Hezbollah, and it remains unclear whether Israel was involved in the detonation of the pagers.
The situation has sparked further international concern, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah show no sign of de-escalating in the near future.
As the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues to unfold, the pager explosions serve as a stark reminder of the growing complexity of the war.
Both sides remain locked in a dangerous escalation, with no clear resolution in sight.