On September 17, 2024, electronic pagers held by members of Hezbollah detonated simultaneously in Lebanon, resulting in at least nine fatalities and approximately 2,800 injuries across the country. The nature of the attack was considered highly unusual and raised concerns about a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah and Lebanese government officials attributed the blame to Israel. In a statement, Hezbollah declared, “We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression,” after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the attack.
While Israel’s military refrained from commenting on the incident, a U.S. official disclosed that Israel privately acknowledged responsibility for the explosions. The Israeli military is known for utilizing technology in attacks, previously using techniques like rigging cellphones to explode.
The blasts primarily affected the southern suburbs of Beirut, which is recognized as a stronghold of Hezbollah. Footage circulated on social media depicted individuals going about their daily activities when they were abruptly knocked down by the explosions. Many bystanders were also injured.
Emergency responders rushed to local hospitals, quickly overwhelming emergency services. In response to the situation, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health declared a medical emergency, revealing that a significant portion of the injured, estimated at least 200, were in critical condition. Most casualties occurred in Beirut, but injuries were reported throughout northern and southern Lebanon.
Details on how the attack was orchestrated remain unclear. One unverified video circulating online showed a man checking his pager shortly before it exploded, suggesting a possible link to an incoming message. Some speculated on the potential for batteries to overheat, but an explosive ordnance disposal expert posited that explosives were likely placed within the pagers.
Historically, Hezbollah members adopted pagers after the escalation of hostilities with Israel nearly a year prior. Given Israel’s capability to intercept phone communications, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah advised members to abandon their phones in favor of pagers, which the group believed would offer a more secure communication method. Reports indicated that Hezbollah had recently obtained a new supply of pagers to coordinate responses to possible Israeli strikes.
Following the explosions, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, the Ministry of Public Health cautioned citizens to avoid wireless communication devices, while Hezbollah urged members with new pagers to dispose of them immediately.
Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firass Abiad, confirmed that at least 2,800 individuals sustained injuries, predominantly to the face, hands, and torso. Media outlets reported nine deaths resulting from the blasts.
Since the conflict escalated post the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border have surged. Massive displacements occurred on both sides, and although there has been an overarching belief that full-scale war is undesirable for either side, tensions have been rising. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the chances for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict were diminishing.
In a related development, Hsu Ching-kuang, the president of Gold Apollo Co. Ltd, a Taiwanese pager manufacturer, confirmed that remnants of his company’s pagers were found at the explosion sites. However, he clarified that the design and production were the responsibility of a European company, BAC, asserting that the devices were different from those his company produces and had components not used by Gold Apollo. Hsu described BAC’s relationship with his company as one in which they initially contracted for pagers but transitioned to designing their own products using Apollo’s brand.