Beirut, September 17, 2024 – In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, the militant group has accused Israel of orchestrating a series of deadly pager blasts across Lebanon, calling it the “biggest security breach” since the war began. The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of nine individuals, including Hezbollah fighters, and injured nearly 3,000 others, marking a grim day in the region’s escalating tensions.
The detonations occurred in Hezbollah strongholds, including southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh), and the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate, promising Israel would face “its fair punishment” for the deadly blasts.
Mysterious Pager Explosions
Hezbollah and Lebanese officials reported that the pagers – handheld devices commonly used by Hezbollah fighters for communication – exploded unexpectedly. These blasts, according to Hezbollah, were part of an Israeli operation that targeted the devices to sow chaos. Surveillance footage showed moments of normal activity, such as a person paying at a grocery store, interrupted by the sudden explosion of a pager placed beside the cashier.
The Lebanese Information Minister, Ziad Makary, condemned the attacks, describing them as an “Israeli aggression.” Hezbollah also revealed that the incident claimed the lives of at least two of its fighters, a young girl, and others, with many more wounded.
Unprecedented Breach
A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called this the group’s “biggest security breach” in the nearly year-long conflict with Israel. The New York Times reported that Israeli operatives had implanted explosive materials into Taiwan-made Gold Apollo pagers before they were imported into Lebanon, using a remote-triggered switch hidden near the pager’s battery. This sophisticated attack stunned Hezbollah, which had been relying on pagers as a low-tech solution to evade Israeli tracking systems.
Hezbollah’s use of pagers has long been seen as a way to avoid the highly advanced surveillance and tracking methods employed by the Israeli military, but Tuesday’s events have cast doubt on the security of even these seemingly outdated devices.
Rising Death Toll and International Reaction
Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed the death toll rose to nine on Tuesday evening, with the number of injured reaching 2,750. Among the injured was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, who suffered a minor injury. Several of Hezbollah’s casualties were said to be the children of senior officials, highlighting the deeply personal toll of the attacks.
The international community has reacted with alarm to the attacks. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, condemned the blasts, calling them a “concerning escalation” in the conflict. Washington has urged restraint from all parties, calling for a diplomatic resolution to the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s Retaliation Promise
Hezbollah’s leadership wasted no time in announcing its intention to retaliate. Senior Hezbollah official Hussein Khalil vowed that Israel would pay for what he described as an attack “targeting an entire nation.” While Hezbollah has lost over 400 fighters in the ongoing conflict, the group’s resolve remains unshaken, with leaders indicating that the conflict will only escalate unless Israel ceases its military actions in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military, while declining to comment directly on the pager explosions, continues to assess the situation. Israeli military spokespersons have emphasized the importance of maintaining “vigilance,” indicating that further provocations from Hezbollah could lead to even more intense cross-border clashes.
Airlines Ground Flights Amid Escalating Tensions
As fears of wider conflict loom, Air France has canceled flights to both Beirut and Tel Aviv, citing security concerns. This comes after Israel reportedly foiled an alleged Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior Israeli defense official earlier in the week, adding to the already tense atmosphere in the region.
Outlook: No End in Sight
As Hezbollah threatens retaliation and Israel remains on high alert, experts believe that while both sides may seek to avoid a full-scale war, the situation is highly volatile. With over a year of intermittent cross-border clashes and no concrete diplomatic progress, the possibility of a wider confrontation cannot be ruled out.
With each new incident, including the unprecedented pager blasts, Lebanon and Israel inch closer to a conflict that neither side wants, but both seem unable to avoid.
