Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters wounded as all their pagers suddenly explode in their pockets: ‘Biggest security breach’
ByRonny Reyes
Published Sep. 17, 2024
Updated Sep. 17, 2024, 11:59 a.m. ET
538 Comments
Hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists were seriously wounded on Tuesday when the pagers they used to communicate exploded around their belts and pockets – with officials claiming a hacking attack by Israel triggered the blasts.
Hezbollah officials confirmed the wide-range attack on its operatives, including fighters and medics, with one member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, calling it the “biggest security breach” since it began its daily attacks on Israel on Oct. 8.
Videos uploaded to social media show several incidents where seemingly unaware men had devices in their pockets blow up, with the victims crying in pain as bystanders ran away.
7Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters were seriously wounded on Tuesday when the pagers they used to communicate exploded around their belts and pockets.
7The pagers were left mangled after the sabotage.
One such video shows a man shopping at a local grocery store when an explosion triggers in his pocket, sending debris flying out of his pants as he falls to the ground.
Along with Hezbollah operatives, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also injured in the blasts, according to Tehran’s Mehr news agency.
Hezbollah members rushed to hospital after pagers exploded
Hezbollah officials claimed Israel was behind the pager attack. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident.
“The enemy (Israel) stands behind this security incident,” a Hezbollah official told the AP.
The devices that detonated were all the latest models acquired by Hezbollah in recent months and distributed to its members, with the devices suspected of being tampered with, three security sources told Reuters.
Through the use of malware, the devices could see their lithium batteries overheat and explode.
One Hezbollah official told the Wall Street Journal that some members felt their pagers heat up and disposed of them before they detonated.
7A Civil Defense first-responder carries a wounded man at al-Zahraa hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 17.AP
7Lebanese army soldiers block an entrance of a Beirut southern suburb on September 17, 2024, after explosions hit locations in several Hezbollah strongholds.AFP via Getty Images
The terror groups’ leader, Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned his fighters not to carry cell phones or pagers, telling them they could be used to track their movements or carry out some kind of targeted strike.
The exact cause of why the pagers exploded have yet to be revealed.
Reuters journalists witnessed ambulances rushing through Beirut with the wounded terrorists amid widespread panic over the explosions.
7Lebanese soldiers and Hezbollah members gather outside a hospital where injured people were being transported following the explosions.WAEL HAMZEH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lebanon’s Health Ministry called on health workers treating the wounded to remove their wireless devices.
Residents said the explosions continued to occur even 30 minutes after the initial blast.
Although with the attack in Beirut, the Hezbollah official said pagers were also being detonated in south Lebanon.
7Residents said the explosions continued to occur even 30 minutes after the initial blast. ANONYMOUS/AFP via Getty Images
7Lebanon’s Health Ministry called on health workers treating the wounded to remove their wireless devices. REUTERS
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Although Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said no deaths have been reported as of Tuesday morning, he expects several casualties given the wide range attack.
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in near daily attacks over the border since the terror group began attacking the Jewish state in solidarity with Hamas.
