“Israel carried out its operation against Hezbollah on Tuesday by hiding explosive material within a new batch of Taiwanese-made pagers imported into Lebanon, according to American and other officials briefed on the operation.” https://t.co/9BDZOGbKxo
— Alireza Nader علیرضا نادر (@AlirezaNader) September 17, 2024
The explosions of 3,000 pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday killed at least 12 people and injured many more. The Lebanese militant group has blamed Israel for the attack and vowed retaliation. Lebanese security sources say the pagers, which were supplied by Iran a few months ago, detonated simultaneously after receiving a message.
Again, this kind of action is not a precedent of something Europeans nations should we willing to push as a legitimate military operation. It seems that our Imperial Masters disagree, though. Therefore, neither can we expect criticisms from our media. https://t.co/mDupW5CFGV
— andrés (@Andres_Boix) September 18, 2024
The pagers reportedly rang just before exploding, causing severe injuries to the face, eyes, and hands of those who picked them up. Among the victims were an 8-year-old girl and a Hezbollah member. Some of the injured are being transferred to Syria and Iran for treatment, while others will remain in Lebanon.
My coverage of today’s unprecedented attack against Hezbollah across Lebanon where 11 people were killed and 4,000 wounded by simultaneous explosion of pagers.https://t.co/NOnttKDEQB
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) September 17, 2024
The pagers were manufactured by a Taiwanese company called Gold Apollo but were actually designed and produced by a Hungarian firm, BAC Consulting Kft. Gold Apollo’s founder, Hsu Ching-kuang, expressed shock over the incident and plans to sue BAC Consulting for damages. BAC Consulting, a shell company based in Budapest, has denied manufacturing the pagers, claiming to be only an intermediary.
The company has minimal online presence and vague descriptions of its business operations.
"According to American and other officials briefed on the attack, Israel hid explosive material in a shipment of Taiwanese-made pagers imported into Lebanon." https://t.co/Syd5QERZzg
— Jérémy André Florès (@Tantalite) September 18, 2024
Hezbollah pagers detonate, causing fatalities
Lebanese officials have blamed Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad, for the attack, although Israel has not commented publicly.
Sources suggest Israel briefed the U.S. on its involvement, indicating the pagers were compromised with small explosives. The incident has raised questions about the timing of the operation and its potential impact on the aviation industry. Some speculate that Israel may have been concerned that Hezbollah had uncovered the plot, forcing them to act.
Others suggest that Israeli domestic politics, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political maneuvers, may have influenced the timing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, currently visiting Egypt, has urged all parties to avoid further escalation in the region. He emphasized that the U.S. was not involved in the attacks and called for restraint to prevent a broader regional conflict.
As investigations continue, the tragic nature of the injuries highlights the fact that many of the pagers were in homes, where children may have played with the devices. The exact number of Hezbollah members killed remains unclear, as Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Haj Hassan declined to specify the figure. The attack indicates a significant intelligence breach and underscores the ongoing tensions and complexities in the region.
Hezbollah has promised retaliation against Israel, heightening concerns about the potential for further violence and instability.
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