Israel is being held responsible for the explosions of Hezbollah pagers in Lebanon on Tuesday, which left thousands injured, CNN reports. The attack was the result of a joint operation between Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the Israeli military, according to News.ro.
The New York Times revealed that explosive materials were hidden in a batch of Taiwanese-made pagers imported into Lebanon for Hezbollah’s use. The explosives were attached to the batteries of each pager and remotely detonated, resulting in simultaneous explosions. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, at least nine people were killed, and over 2,800 were injured, with 170 in critical condition.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government accused Israel of the attack, though Israel has yet to comment on the allegations.
“Alarming Escalation”
Janine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, called the explosions a “deeply troubling escalation” and urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that civilians must be protected at all times.
She also appealed to all sides to refrain from further provocations or aggressive rhetoric, warning against a broader conflict.
Why Does Hezbollah Use Pagers?
Hezbollah has long eschewed high-tech devices to avoid Israeli and American surveillance. Its internal communication network, based on pager technology, has been a cornerstone of the group’s security strategy. Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had even urged members and their families to abandon mobile phones, labeling them “collaborators and killers.”
However, the breach of their pager system has delivered a significant blow to Hezbollah, exposing vulnerabilities in the very tools they trusted for secure communication.
