The victims of the pager explosions in Lebanon – Firstpost

A series of explosions rocked Lebanon on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) as thousands of pagers – predominantly used by Hezbollah members – exploded simultaneously in different regions.

The explosions, reportedly a joint operation by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and the military, reportedly killed at least 16 people and injured more than 2,750, 170 of whom are in critical condition.

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that these numbers could rise if more victims were identified. The dead included Hezbollah members and civilians, including children.

Who were the victims?

The exact number of victims has not yet been confirmed and an exact death toll is still pending. Since explosions were reported in both Lebanon and Syria, numerous reports give different figures.

Eight of the victims were apparently members of Hezbollah. The group initially announced that two members had been killed in the pager bombings, but later announced that six more had been killed the same day. How the latter died, however, has not been confirmed.

In Syria, seven people were killed, according to the organization affiliated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Saberin News.

One of the most high-profile victims of the blasts was Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, who suffered a superficial injury. Iranian media confirmed that Amani was under medical observation, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the attack as an act of “Israeli terrorism.” Two of Amani's embassy staff were also injured in the attack.

Among the fatalities was 10-year-old Fatima Jaafar Abdullah, who died when her father's pager exploded in their house in the Bekaa Valley. “A 10-year-old girl was martyred in the Bekaa Valley when her father's pager exploded while he was next to her,” her relatives said. AFP.

A picture of child martyr Fatima Jaafar Abdullah, who died when the communication device “Bager” exploded in her family’s house. 😔

May God have mercy on the martyrs and accept them
We ask him for the safety and recovery of the injured and wounded
🇱🇧💔 pic.twitter.com/JH8PmqkKJ0

— ❤Hana❤ (@hana7_10_2023gz) 17 September 2024

Another victim, the son of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar, was also killed by an exploding pager.

The explosions overwhelmed hospitals in Beirut and southern Lebanon. About 150 hospitals across the country received victims and the Lebanese government launched an appeal for blood donations.

Lebanon's Health Ministry also advised citizens to put away their pagers and warned hospitals to remain on high alert given the large number of injured people being admitted for treatment.

What happened on Tuesday?

The unprecedented attack, which Hezbollah called the “biggest security breach” in its history, occurred when pagers believed to have been tampered with by Israeli intelligence exploded in several locations, including Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

The New York Times reported that the devices, manufactured by the Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, were rigged with explosives. Israel is said to have placed explosives next to the pagers' batteries so that they can be detonated remotely when the devices receive a signal.

Videos circulating on social media show the chaotic aftermath. They show people with serious injuries, some with blood on their hands and faces. In one clip, a man shopping in a supermarket falls to the ground, clutching his stomach after an explosion ripped apart his shopping bag.

Over 1,200 Hezbollah members injured in suspected Israeli attack on supply chain in which pagers were converted into explosive devices

A series of pager explosions resulted in a mass casualty incident in which several activists were killed or seriously injured in Lebanon and Syria. … pic.twitter.com/PKVRaa8swg

— Brother Mikey (@BrotherMikeyX) 17 September 2024

Eyewitness reports painted a grim picture: “There was blood on the streets and people were being taken to the hospital in ambulances, but we didn't know what was happening,” one witness told CNN.

How did Hezbollah react?

Hezbollah condemned the attack in a statement and vowed retaliation against Israel. “This criminal and treacherous enemy will definitely receive a just punishment for this sinful attack, both in expected and unexpected ways,” Hezbollah said.

The militant group, which is backed by Iran, also promised “harsh retribution” for what it called a “massacre.” Despite Hezbollah's accusations, the Israeli military has remained silent and made no comment on the operation.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack as “a serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by any standard” and stressed that the international community must hold Israel accountable for the loss of life.

The attack not only exposed a significant vulnerability in Hezbollah's communications network, but also heightened tensions in an already unstable West Asia. Israel and Hezbollah have carried out sporadic cross-border attacks since the Gaza war began in 2023, and this incident marks a dangerous escalation.

Aren't pagers low-tech?

In response to ongoing Israeli surveillance, Hezbollah had switched its communications systems to low-tech alternatives. In early 2024, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, urged his operatives to stop using cell phones and advised them to rely instead on pagers, which were considered more secure from Israeli and US intelligence agencies.

The pagers that Hezbollah recently purchased were reportedly imported from Taiwan through a European dealer and sold under the brand name Gold Apollo.

However, Gold Apollo has said the pagers containing the company's bearings were manufactured by a distributor in Europe. Taiwan has no record of Gold Apollo pagers being shipped to Lebanon or the Middle East, a senior Taiwanese security official said. CNN.

According to a Lebanese security source, the devices detonated simultaneously on Tuesday afternoon, triggered by a message sent to the pagers. David Kennedy, a former NSA intelligence analyst, speculated that the size and timing of the explosions suggested they were deliberate. “It's more likely that Israel had human agents inside Hezbollah… The complexity that was required to pull this off is incredible,” Kennedy said. CNN.

With contributions from agencies