A stunning development has unfolded in Lebanon and Syria, where thousands of electronic pagers belonging to Hezbollah members suddenly exploded at the same time, resulting in nine deaths and injuries to over 2,800 individuals. This incident has been described as the most significant attacks Hezbollah has faced in nearly a year.
Lebanese Health Minister Firas al-Abyad reported that nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, have been killed, and approximately 2,800 others have been injured, with 200 in critical condition. Hezbollah initially claimed that three fatalities occurred, including “a girl and two brothers.”
In Syria, the Iranian media outlet Saberin News reported seven deaths in Damascus, particularly in the Seyedah Zeinab neighborhood, close to the Iranian embassy. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that several casualties were treated in hospitals around Damascus, though the exact numbers remain unverified.
The explosions, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, affected around 100 hospitals in Lebanon, with many injured individuals suffering wounds to the face, arms, and abdomen, according to multiple reports. Hezbollah has labeled this event as the largest security breach they’ve encountered during their ongoing conflict with Israel. In a dramatic video from the scene, a man is seen collapsing from a blast while picking fruit in a bustling market.
Theories on the Explosions:
Experts are debating how such a coordinated series of explosions could have occurred. Two primary theories have emerged:
Cybersecurity Breach: One theory suggests a cybersecurity breach might have caused the pagers’ lithium batteries to overheat and explode. However, David Kennedy, a former NSA analyst, finds this theory less convincing. He argues that the scale of the explosions seems too large for a simple remote hack.
Supply Chain Attack: Kennedy supports the second theory, which posits a supply chain attack. This theory suggests that the pagers were tampered with during manufacturing or shipping, with explosives planted to detonate upon receiving a specific signal. Kennedy asserts that such an operation would require extensive intelligence work, including human operatives and modifications made to the pagers during the supply chain process.
Hezbollah has attributed the attack to Israel without presenting evidence, promising retaliation. The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon was among those injured in the explosions. Meanwhile, Israel has yet to comment officially.
The incident comes amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, exacerbated by recent escalations in Gaza.
The situation highlights the intricate and dangerous dynamics of the current regional conflicts and raises concerns about the security and integrity of communication devices used by both military and civilian personnel.
