On Tuesday afternoon, electronic pagers used by members of Hezbollah detonated simultaneously, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring approximately 2,800 others across Lebanon. This type of attack is considered highly unusual and raises concerns about a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanese officials and Hezbollah have attributed the attack to Israel. Hezbollah issued a statement asserting that, based on their analysis of the situation, they hold “the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression.” Israel’s military refrained from commenting. However, a U.S. official disclosed that Israel informed the U.S. of its responsibility for the incident after it occurred. Israeli security forces have previously conducted tech-related assaults, such as those involving exploding cellphones.
The blasts primarily affected southern Beirut, Hezbollah’s stronghold. Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals going about their routines when the explosions knocked them down. Numerous bystanders were also injured in the chaos.
Ambulances were deployed to transport the injured to hospitals, quickly overwhelming medical facilities. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health declared a medical emergency, reporting that at least 200 of the injured were in serious condition. While Beirut experienced the highest casualty rate, injuries were also reported in the north and south of the country.
It remains unclear how the attack was orchestrated. In a viral, unverified video, an individual appears to check their pager moments before it detonates, suggesting it could have been triggered by an incoming message. Some online speculated about overheating batteries, but Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, suggested that explosives might have been deliberately placed in the pagers. He stated that the widespread nature of the explosions indicated the pagers’ supply chain had been compromised.
Hezbollah had adopted the use of pagers following intense fighting with Israel last year, believing they would provide a more secure communication method as the group sought to avoid Israeli surveillance of phone networks. Reports indicated that Hezbollah had recently received a new set of imported pagers to communicate regarding potential Israeli drone attacks.
After the explosions occurred around 3:30 PM, the Ministry of Public Health advised anyone with wireless communication devices to stay away from them, and Hezbollah instructed members with new pagers to dispose of them.
Lebanon’s health minister, Firass Abiad, confirmed the injuries and identified most wounds as affecting the face, hands, and torso. Media outlets in Lebanon reported a death toll of nine.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel last year, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in cross-border exchanges of rockets and missiles. Both sides have seen tens of thousands of residents displaced from their homes, with many still unable to return. Despite escalating tensions, analysts generally believe that neither Israel nor Hezbollah is eager to engage in full-scale warfare.
Israel has been preoccupied with its conflict in Gaza, while Lebanon faces ongoing political and economic turmoil that could be exacerbated by war. Nonetheless, fighting has intensified recently, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant noted that the chances for a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict are dwindling.
A Taiwanese company called Gold Apollo Co. Ltd, which was linked to the devices that exploded, has denied any involvement. Hsu Ching-kuang, the firm’s founder, confirmed that remnants of their pagers were found at the explosion sites, but maintained that the devices were designed and manufactured by a European company named BAC. Hsu stated that Gold Apollo had contracted with BAC three years prior, allowing BAC to create its own devices while retaining Gold Apollo’s branding.