What We Know About The Exploding Pagers Targeting Hezbollah
Hezbollah is reported to have ordered over 3,000 pagers from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo, which were later rigged with explosives before being delivered to Lebanon.
Israeli forces are behind the modifications, though the level of involvement, if any, from Gold Apollo remains unclear. The rigged devices led to deadly explosions, killing at least 9 people and injuring over 3,000, with the real number expected to be much higher as hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.
The blasts were triggered remotely by a message sent to the pagers, designed to appear as though it came from Hezbollah leadership. Along with the messages, beepers inside the devices were set to sound for several seconds before detonating. Most likely to get the target to take the pager out and bring it closer to their face to read the message and increase the likelihood of striking them.
According to 961 News sources, these devices were distributed primarily to mid- and high-level Hezbollah operatives, with some also given to allies in Syria and Iran. Notably, lower-level members were not provided with these pagers.
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Among the casualties is the Iranian ambassador who was injured with his pager went off – further confirming Iran-Hezbollah coordination. In addition, the son of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar was killed and the son of Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah was injured.
Initial reports suggested the explosions might have been caused by the pagers overheating, but the size and power of the blasts quickly dispelled that theory. Experts now believe that the devices may have been remotely overheated, activating the explosives hidden inside them.
There is no clear indication of when Hezbollah placed the orders for the pagers, though it’s suspected to have occurred shortly after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah instructed members to stop using cell phones – to counter suspect Israeli tracking. This move prompted the switch to the pagers, which were ultimately sabotaged.
While Hezbollah officially claimed at least 15 members were killed that night, the group did not specify which fatalities resulted from the pager explosions and which were due to airstrikes. The true extent of the damage and casualties remains uncertain as medical teams continue to grapple with the fallout from this tragic incident.
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