WHAT HAPPENED?:
At 3:00 pm on September 17th and 18th, a series of simultaneous explosions occurred in the streets of Lebanon.
According to multiple news sources, the pager bombings killed 12 people, 2 of whom were children, and managed to wound around 2,800 others.
20 citizens, 4 of which were attending funerals of the initial victims, were also killed and 450 injured by more detonated walkie talkies the next day.
The blasts “went off… in homes, cars, at grocery stores and in cafes, often with family or bystanders nearby” reported AP News.
WHO WAS THE TARGET?:
BBC News said members of Hezbollah, an “influential Shia Muslim political party,” were the strike’s target.
However, many civilians were also harmed by the tech attacks, due to either possessing their own corrupted communication device or their proximity to a triggered explosion.
The resulting injuries were typically found along the hands, faces, and hip areas of the victims.
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
CNN news reports the “explosions were the result of a joint operation between Israel’s intelligence service… and the Israeli military.”
Considering how both territories have been locked in conflict for years, it’s no surprise Israel was the assailant.
The two regions’ relationship has been especially tense since the October 7 attacks in 2024.
In fact, Hezbollah has been launching almost daily missile attacks on Israel since October 8, further fueling the hostility between the two.
HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE?:
The initial theory was that the communication devices had been hacked and that their batteries were stimulated in a way to overheat and erupt; however, experts have discounted the alarming idea as in that case the explosions wouldn’t be nearly as consistent or damaging.
Nonetheless, it’s been proven that the sophisticated attack was made possible by the culprit intercepting a supply chain order.
Months ago Israel managed to get ahold of the gadgets, take them apart, and insert the “explosive material within a new batch of Taiwanese-made pagers,” reported The New York Times.
It is believed that the explosions were only triggered 2 weeks ago as the time was chosen to maximize the potential damages.
WHO SUPPLIED THE PAGERS?:
Due to their name being engraved upon the exploding technologies, it was initially believed that Gold Apollo, a wireless company based in Taiwan, was responsible.
However, they quickly dismissed the notion and revealed that they had only allowed a manufacturer named BAC Consulting to use their name on their products.
Importantly, both companies deny any further accusations that blame them for the resulting incident.
RAMIFICATIONS:
Israel has effectively crippled Hezbollah’s method of communication, leaving citizens distrustful of any similarly purposed technology.
According to OHCHR, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the terrifying “[violation] of international law” has caused a majority of civilians to justifiably fear any and all provided mobile devices.
The horrified victims are under the assumption that they could all still be carrying deadly bombs in their pockets.