A devastating series of explosions targeting Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon has resulted in at least nine deaths and over 2,800 injuries. The blasts, which occurred around 3:30 PM local time (6 PM IST), have been attributed to malfunctioning pagers used by Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU.
Incident Overview
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the fatalities and extensive injuries. The explosions have primarily affected areas in East Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut, with significant damage reported in several Hezbollah-controlled regions. The explosions also impacted Syria, with reports indicating injuries in Damascus.
Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, has been injured in the incident, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Among the deceased is a 10-year-old girl, the daughter of a Hezbollah member. The fatalities also include the sons of Hezbollah lawmakers Ali Ammar and Hassan Fadlallah.
Hezbollah’s Allegations
Hezbollah has accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks, calling it the “biggest security breach” they have experienced. According to Hezbollah, all pagers exploded nearly simultaneously, suggesting a coordinated attack. The group has described the incident as an “Israeli breach” of its communications network.
The group’s statement emphasized the severity of the attack and urged people to avoid spreading rumors, which could further inflame tensions. Hezbollah has begun extensive security and scientific investigations to determine the cause of the explosions.
Possible Causes
Initial speculation suggests two potential causes for the blasts:
- Electronic Signal Breach: Some reports suggest that the explosions might have resulted from overheating lithium batteries due to a cyber-attack-like signal breach.
- Explosives Concealed in Pagers: Another theory posits that explosives were hidden inside the pagers before they were distributed. This claim, however, remains unverified.
Israel’s Response
As of now, Israel has not responded to the accusations made by Hezbollah and Iran. The lack of response adds to the tension surrounding the incident.
Understanding Pagers
Pagers, or beepers, are wireless communication devices that were widely used in the 1990s and early 2000s. They typically receive and display alphanumeric messages and can either beep, vibrate, or flash notifications to alert users. Modern paging systems use various protocols, such as FLEX and ReFLEX, but these are not encrypted and are vulnerable to breaches. The specific encryption methods used by Hezbollah for their pagers, if any, are not known.
The pager explosions in Lebanon represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel. As investigations continue, the international community remains on high alert for further developments in the region.
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