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2024 Lebanon electronic device attacks

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2024 Lebanon pager explosions
Part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the spillover of the Israel–Hamas war
Date17 September 2024
Location
Lebanon
Belligerents
 Hezbollah  Israel (presumed)
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
1000+ injured[1]
  • None

On 17 September 2024, it was reported that over thousand people, including Hezbollah militants and medics, were injured in Lebanon during an organized attack on their communication pager system.[2][3][4] The blasts affected several Hezbollah strongholds, including Beirut's Dahieh suburb, southern Lebanon, and in the Beqaa Valley.[3][5][6] The Iranian-backed Hezbollah called the incident the organization's "biggest security breach yet."[7]

Following Hamas' large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah entered the conflict by launching attacks on Israeli targets.[8] This led to a series of cross-border military exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel.[9] Earlier on the day of the explosion, Israel's domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, announced it had thwarted a Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior defense official using an explosive device.[10]

Background

Main article: Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)

A day after Hamas launched its October 7 attacks on Israel, the Iranian-backed militant organization Hezbollah joined the conflict in support of Hamas by firing on Israeli positions.[8] Since then, Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in cross-border military exchanges that have displaced entire communities in Israel and Lebanon, with significant damage to buildings and land along the border. As of 5 July 2024, Israel reports having killed approximately 366 Hezbollah operatives. According to the United Nations, over 90,000 people in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes, while in Israel, 60,000 civilians have evacuated.[9] Israel and Hezbollah have maintained their attacks at a level that causes significant harm without escalating into a full-scale war.[11] From 7 October 2023 to 21 June 2024, Israel attacked Lebanon 6,124 times. Hezbollah and other Lebanese forces attacked Israel 1,258 times.[12]

On 27 July 2024, the Majdal Shams attack took place when a football pitch was hit by a rocket in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, killing 12 children and teenagers.[13][14] In response, on 30 July 2024, Israel conducted an airstrike on an apartment building in Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.[15][16]

Earlier that same day, the Security Cabinet of Israel established a new war objective: the safe return of residents to the north. This goal was added to the two existing objectives—dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages taken during the October 7 attacks.[17][18] Israel's domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, announced it had thwarted a Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior defense official using an explosive device.[10][16]

Prior to the explosions, Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah had called on members to stop using smartphones, citing Israel's capability to infiltrate the devices.[19]

Event

On 17 September 2024, hundreds of Hezbollah members were seriously wounded in multiple locations across Lebanon when their communication pagers unexpectedly exploded.[20][21] Reports indicate that the devices were powered by lithium batteries, which reportedly exploded. Lithium batteries, found in various consumer electronics and electric vehicles, can overheat, smoke, melt, or catch fire, with temperatures reaching up to 1,100°F (590°C).[22] It has also been reported that the handheld pagers rang for several seconds before the explosion to increase the likelihood that the recipient would answer, thereby maximizing the chance of injury.[23]

The explosions occurred in several areas where Hezbollah has a strong presence,[24] including its stronghold of Dahieh in Beirut; southern Lebanon; and the Beqaa Valley,[25][26][27] where explosions were reported in the towns of Aali en Nahri and Riyaq.[6] The blasts reportedly persisted for up to 30 minutes following the initial detonations, intensifying the resulting chaos.[28]

Witnesses reported seeing multiple individuals bleeding from their wounds in the aftermath of the blasts.[29] Photos and videos circulating on social media and local media from Beirut's southern suburbs showed individuals lying on the ground with injuries on their hands or near their pockets.[24] Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was injured in the explosions.[30]

Hospitals in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut's southern suburbs have been overwhelmed with patients, many suffering from severe limb injuries.[24] In response, Lebanon's Ministry of Health advised individuals with pagers to dispose of them and instructed hospitals to remain on "high alert."[31] The state-run National News Agency has appealed for blood donations.[24]

Responses

A Hezbollah official told Lebanon's state-run National News Agency that the incident was the organization's "biggest security breach yet."[7]

A senior Lebanese security source informed AlHadath that Israel had infiltrated the communication systems of individual devices, leading to their detonation.[3]

The Israel Defense Forces declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers explode". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  2. ^ ארי, ליאור בן (2024-09-17). "דיווחים: עשרות פעילי חיזבאללה נפגעו באירוע ביטחוני חריג בדרום לבנון ובביירות". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  3. ^ a b c "Hundreds of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon in mass pager hack". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  4. ^ Kent, Lauren (2024-09-17). "Hundreds injured in attack targeting pagers of Hezbollah members, Lebanese security source says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  5. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 2024-09-17.
  6. ^ a b Kent, Lauren (2024-09-17). "Hundreds injured in attack targeting pagers of Hezbollah members, Lebanese security source says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  7. ^ a b "Dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly hurt by exploding pagers". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  8. ^ a b "Smoke on the horizon: Israel-Hezbollah all-out war edges closer". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  9. ^ a b "Israel-Hezbollah: Mapping the scale of damage of cross-border attacks". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Israel says it thwarted Hezbollah plot to kill former defence official". Reuters. 2024-09-17.
  11. ^ Keller-Lynn, Carrie (27 July 2024). "Deadly Rocket Strike on Soccer Field Raises Risk of Escalation with Hezbollah". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  12. ^ At least 12 killed in rocket attack in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Archived 29 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera 27 July 2024
  13. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (27 July 2024). "12 killed, mostly children, dozens hurt as Hezbollah rocket hits Majdal Shams soccer field". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Missile hit in Majdal Shams kills nine, injures at least 34 including children". Ynetnews. 27 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Hezbollah says top commander Fuad Shukr killed in Israeli strike on Beirut". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Did Israel retaliate against Hezbollah for attempted assassination of ex-defense chief? - analysis". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  17. ^ "Israel sets new war goal of returning residents to the north". BBC. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  18. ^ "The return of evacuated residents to northern Israel is now a war goal, PMO says". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  19. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded after pagers explode in Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 2024-09-17.
  21. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly hurt by exploding pagers". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  22. ^ "Dozens wounded after pagers detonate in Lebanon, media and security officials say". AP News. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  23. ^ "Hundreds of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon in mass pager hack". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  24. ^ a b c d "Dozens wounded after pagers detonate in Lebanon, media and security officials say". AP News. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  25. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 2024-09-17.
  26. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly hurt by exploding pagers". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  27. ^ Kent, Lauren (2024-09-17). "Hundreds injured in attack targeting pagers of Hezbollah members, Lebanese security source says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  28. ^ "Hundreds of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon in mass pager hack". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  29. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 2024-09-17.
  30. ^ "Iranian ambassador Mojtaba Amani injured in Hezbollah explosion - report". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  31. ^ Kent, Lauren (2024-09-17). "Hundreds injured in attack targeting pagers of Hezbollah members, Lebanese security source says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  32. ^ "Dozens wounded after pagers detonate in Lebanon, media and security officials say". AP News. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
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