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Revision as of 17:09, 17 September 2024

2024 Lebanon pager explosions
Part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the spillover of the Israel–Hamas war
LocationLebanon and Syria
Date17 September 2024
c. 13:45 (UTC+2)
TargetHezbollah militants
WeaponExplosive pagers
Deaths16 (9 in Lebanon and 7 in Syria)[1]
Injured2,800[1]
Perpetrator Israel (presumed)

On 17 September 2024, communication pagers used by Hezbollah members simultaneously exploded across Lebanon and Damascus, Syria. Nine people were confirmed killed in Lebanon including a child and at least two Hezbollah members, while more than seven Hezbollah members were killed in Syria. Reports say that more than 2,700 were injured.[1][2][3] The blasts affected several Hezbollah strongholds, including Beirut's Dahieh suburb, southern Lebanon, and in the Beqaa Valley.[4][5][2] Hezbollah called the incident the organization's "biggest security breach yet".[6][7]

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] 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 been 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]

Earlier on 17 September, just a few hours before the explosions, the Security Cabinet of Israel established a new war objective: the safe return of displaced 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.[13][14] 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][15]

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.[16]

Explosions

The size of a battery for a Teledrin SIP pager; the exact model of pager and batteries used are not yet confirmed

On 17 September 2024, hundreds of Hezbollah militants and medics were seriously wounded in multiple locations across Lebanon when their communication pagers unexpectedly exploded.[5][6] According to a report from the The Wall Street Journal, the affected devices were from shipment received by the group just a few days before.[17] An Associated Press report indicated that the devices were powered by lithium batteries, which reportedly exploded, going on to note that rechargeable lithium batteries, found in various consumer electronic items and electric vehicles, "when overheated, can smoke, melt and... catch on fire", and in the latter case, reach temperatures, in degress, of "up to 590 C (1,100 F)".[18] 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.[4]

The explosions occurred in several areas where Hezbollah has a strong presence,[18] including its stronghold of Dahieh in Beirut; southern Lebanon; and the Beqaa Valley,[5][6][2] where explosions were reported in the towns of Aali en Nahri and Riyaq.[2] In Syria, explosions of pagers were also reported in the vicinity of Damascus.[19] The blasts reportedly persisted for up to 30 minutes following the initial detonations, intensifying the resulting chaos.[4]

Witnesses reported seeing multiple individuals bleeding from their wounds in the aftermath of the blasts.[5] In one instance, an explosion occurred inside the trouser pockets of a man standing outside a shop.[20] 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. Iran's Fars News Agency reported that Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, sustained a minor injury from a pager explosion and was being monitored in a hospital. Mehr News Agency also confirmed that Amani was injured by the explosion,[21][18] along with two embassy staff.[2] Lebanese authorities later said at least eight people were reported killed, including two Hezbollah militants and a girl.[3] Around 2,750 people were wounded, including 200 who sustained critical injuries.[22]

Around 150 hospitals across Lebanon received victims of the attack.[23] Hospitals in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut's southern suburbs were overwhelmed with patients, many suffering from severe limb injuries. In response, Lebanon's Ministry of Health advised individuals with pagers to dispose of them and instructed hospitals to remain on "high alert".[2] it also asked health workers not to use wireless devices.[22] The Lebanese state-run National News Agency appealed for blood donations.[24]

Responses

Hezbollah stated that it was examining the cause of the explosions but did not explicitly attribute them to Israel.[25] A Hezbollah official told Lebanon's state-run National News Agency that the incident was the organization's "biggest security breach yet."[6]

A senior Lebanese security source informed Al-Hadath that Israel had infiltrated the communication systems of individual devices, leading to their detonation.[4]

The Israel Defense Forces declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Eight killed, 2,750 wounded across Lebanon: Health Minister". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kent, Lauren (2024-09-17). "Hundreds injured in attack targeting pagers of Hezbollah members, Lebanese security source says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  3. ^ a b Bassam, Laila (2024-09-17). "Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers explode". Reuters. Hezbollah confirmed in a statement the deaths of at least three people, including two of its fighters.
  4. ^ a b c d "Hundreds of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon in mass pager hack". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  5. ^ a b c d "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 2024-09-17.
  6. ^ a b c d "Dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly hurt by exploding pagers". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  7. ^ Siddiqui, Federica Marsi,Usaid (17 September 2024). "Eight-year-old girl among those killed in pager explosion attacks, health minister says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 September 2024. Eight people have been killed in the attacks, among them is an eight-year-old girl from the Bekaa Valley{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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. ^ "Israel sets new war goal of returning residents to the north". BBC. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "Did Israel retaliate against Hezbollah for attempted assassination of ex-defense chief? - analysis". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  16. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded after pagers explode in Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Exploding Pagers Injure Hundreds of Hezbollah Members". The Wall Street Journal. 2024-09-17.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Car explosion reported in Damascus". Mehr News Agency. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  20. ^ "Hezbollah says exploding pagers kill three and injure many in Lebanon". BBC. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  21. ^ "Iranian ambassador Mojtaba Amani injured in Hezbollah explosion - report". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  22. ^ a b "A wave of exploding pagers in Lebanon and Syria kills at least 8, including members of Hezbollah". Associated Press. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  23. ^ "Lebanon's health minister says 8 killed, 2,750 wounded by exploding pagers". Al Jazeera. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  24. ^ Picheta, Lauren Kent, Rob (2024-09-17). "Pager explosions injure thousands, including Hezbollah members, Lebanon says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Breaking news: Lebanon's Hezbollah says 3 dead in pager explosions, does not accuse Israel". France 24. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
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