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A tragic incident in Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals and left nearly 3,000 others injured when pagers used by members of Hezbollah—comprising both fighters and medics—exploded simultaneously.
This article outlines the details surrounding these devastating blasts.
Timing and Locations of the Explosions
The first detonations occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time and were concentrated in Hezbollah-dominated areas, notably the southern suburbs of Beirut known as Dahieh and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
The explosions continued for about an hour, with local witnesses reporting that sounds of explosions were still audible at 4:30 p.m.
Reports indicate that the blasts followed the buzz of the pagers, prompting individuals to check their devices, which may have contributed to their injuries.
WATCH | Casualties arise following pager explosions:Â
Injuries extend to Hezbollah affiliates after pager detonations in Lebanon
Initial reports indicate that at least three individuals were killed and over 1,000 were injured, including numerous Hezbollah fighters and medics, as per security sources.
How Significant Were the Explosions?
The explosions were reportedly contained, with video footage capturing the incidents showing that the injuries seemed limited to those nearest the pagers when they detonated.
Fortunately, the explosions did not appear to have caused significant structural damage or ignited any fires.
Details on the Faulty Pagers
Images of the damaged pagers indicate that they were manufactured by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company known for producing similar devices.
There has been no immediate response from the manufacturer regarding the incident, and Hezbollah has also not clarified the specifics about the pagers involved.
Hezbollah was reported to have adopted the use of pagers to evade Israeli tracking of their movements, according to sources familiar with the group’s strategies earlier this year. The pagers that malfunctioned were noted to be a newer model introduced in recent months.
Investigating the Cause of the Blasts
In response to the incidents, Hezbollah announced the initiation of a “security and scientific investigation” to ascertain the cause of the explosions.
Diplomatic and security experts have speculated that the blasts could possibly stem from overheating batteries within the devices.
However, some experts expressed skepticism about whether batteries alone could cause such significant explosions. Paul Christensen, a specialist in lithium-ion battery safety, noted that while batteries can fail, the damage observed seemed disproportionate to typical failures.
Furthermore, SMEX, a Lebanese digital rights organization, raised concerns that Israel might have implemented a cyber exploit or tampered with the devices, suggesting they could have been altered before reaching Hezbollah.
Israel has yet to acknowledge any involvement concerning the explosions, despite reports of previous tactics where explosives were discreetly placed in common devices to target adversaries, as discussed in journalistic accounts.
Official Responses and Reactions
In the aftermath, Lebanon’s foreign ministry classified the explosions as an “Israeli cyber attack,” although specifics surrounding this determination have not been disclosed.
Lebanon’s information minister condemned the explosions as an attack on the nation’s sovereignty.
Israel’s military has refrained from providing comments regarding the incidents when approached by media outlets.
Source
www.cbc.ca