The dramatic explosions of communication devices, including pagers reportedly used by Hezbollah, across Lebanon on a Tuesday and Wednesday resulted in tragic consequences. At least 32 individuals, among them two children, lost their lives, and thousands sustained injuries, many critically, in these unsettling incidents.
The second wave of blasts on Wednesday, involving exploding walkie-talkies, claimed the lives of 20 people and left at least 450 injured, as confirmed by Lebanon’s health ministry. These explosions occurred near a large gathering assembled for the funerals of four victims from the initial pager blasts on Tuesday. Those earlier explosions had already killed at least 12 and injured almost 3,000.
BBC teams on the ground reported chaotic scenes as emergency services struggled to navigate through the injured, and a palpable sense of suspicion fell upon anyone using a mobile phone. These events intensified the existing anxieties within Lebanese society, especially following the sophisticated and seemingly coordinated attack on thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah members the previous day.
Hezbollah has pointed the finger at Israel, its long-standing adversary. Israeli officials have, to date, offered no comment on the accusations. Meanwhile, two companies, one Taiwanese and one Hungarian, named in media reports as manufacturers of the pagers, have denied any involvement. The Taiwanese government specifically stated that the components found in the pagers were not of Taiwanese origin. “The components are low-end IC (integrated circuits) and batteries, I can say with certainty they were not made in Taiwan,” stated Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei. Adding to the complexity, a Japanese company believed to manufacture the walkie-talkies in question announced that it had ceased production of that specific model a decade ago.
Here’s a breakdown of what is currently understood about these alarming events.
Unfolding of the Attacks: Timelines and Locations
The initial explosions began around 3:30 PM local time (1:30 PM BST) on Tuesday, impacting Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, and other areas across the country. Eyewitness accounts describe smoke emanating from pockets just before small, firework or gunshot-like explosions occurred.
The New York Times, citing U.S. officials, reported that the pagers received messages that appeared to originate from Hezbollah leadership immediately before detonation. However, these messages were, in fact, triggers for the devices. The explosions continued for approximately an hour following the initial wave, according to Reuters. Hospitals across Lebanon were quickly overwhelmed with casualties, emergency rooms filled with mass confusion and a surge of patients.
Similar scenes of devastation unfolded in a second round of blasts on Wednesday at approximately 5:00 PM local time (3:00 PM BST). Reports suggest walkie-talkies were the devices detonated this time, devices reportedly purchased by Hezbollah just five months prior, according to a security source speaking to Reuters. One explosion occurred close to a funeral procession in Beirut for victims of Tuesday’s attack, triggering further panic amongst mourners. The Wednesday blasts resulted in 20 fatalities and at least 450 injuries, as confirmed by the Lebanese health ministry, adding to the already substantial toll from the previous day.
Delving into the Devices: Pagers and Walkie-Talkies
Details surrounding the walkie-talkies involved in Wednesday’s explosions are still emerging. Post-blast footage revealed fragments of devices bearing the Icom brand, a Japanese company. Icom released a statement identifying the model as IC-V82, a handheld radio exported to the Middle East between 2004 and 2014, with shipments ceasing thereafter. Icom confirmed that production of this model and its batteries concluded 10 years prior.
The company clarified that it couldn’t verify if the IC-V82 units involved in the attacks were directly from Icom or acquired through distributors. Products for overseas markets were exclusively sold to authorized distributors. However, uncertainty remains whether the devices were genuine Icom products. A sales executive at Icom’s U.S. subsidiary told AP news agency that the devices appeared to be counterfeit versions, noting the easy availability of knock-offs online.
Regarding the pagers from Tuesday’s attacks, a Hezbollah operative informed AP that they were a new brand, unfamiliar to the group. A Lebanese security official disclosed to Reuters that approximately 5,000 pagers had been imported into the country around five months prior. Labels on fragments pointed to a “Rugged Pager AR-924” model. However, Gold Apollo, the Taiwanese manufacturer, denied any connection to the explosions. During a BBC visit to Gold Apollo, local police were present, searching offices, reviewing documents, and interviewing staff.
Hsu Ching-Kuang, the founder of Gold Apollo, stated his company had an agreement with a Hungarian company, BAC, to manufacture devices under Gold Apollo’s name. He described money transfers from BAC as “very strange,” without providing further details. BBC Verify examined BAC’s company records, revealing its incorporation in 2022. BAC’s CEO, Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono, told NBC she knew nothing about the explosions. “I don’t make the pagers. I am just the intermediate. I think you got it wrong,” she stated. The Hungarian government confirmed that BAC had “no manufacturing or operational site” within Hungary.
Motives Behind the Pager Attacks: Allegations and Analysis
Unnamed U.S. and Israeli officials suggested to Axios that the synchronized detonation of pagers was originally planned as the initial phase of a comprehensive offensive against Hezbollah. However, recent concerns that Hezbollah had become aware of the plan led to an early triggering of the devices. Israeli officials have not responded to these allegations, but most analysts consider Israel’s involvement highly probable.
Professor Simon Mabon, Chair in International Relations at Lancaster University, commented to the BBC, “We know that Israel has a precedent of using technology to track its target,” but emphasized the “unprecedented” scale of this attack. Lina Khatib, from Chatham House, a UK-based think tank, suggested the attack indicated a “deep” infiltration of Hezbollah’s communications network by Israel.
Hezbollah, in its statement accusing Israel, asserted that it held the country “fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians.”
Hezbollah’s Reliance on Pagers: A Low-Tech Strategy
Hezbollah’s strategic use of pagers stems from a need for secure, untraceable communication, particularly against Israeli surveillance. Pagers, being simpler wireless devices for receiving alphanumeric or voice messages, are significantly harder to track compared to mobile phones. Mobile phones have long been considered too vulnerable, a lesson tragically underscored by Israel’s 1996 assassination of Hamas bomb-maker Yahya Ayyash through a phone explosion.
In February, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah instructed fighters to discard their mobile phones due to Israeli intelligence infiltration. He advised them to destroy, bury, or lock phones away in iron boxes. Experts now speculate that this public directive, given during a televised address, may have alerted Israeli intelligence to Hezbollah’s search for alternative, likely less technologically advanced, communication methods.
Victims of the Tuesday Attack: Personal Tragedies
Sources close to Hezbollah informed AFP news agency that among Tuesday’s fatalities were the sons of two Hezbollah Members of Parliament and the daughter of another Hezbollah member. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also injured, though Iranian media reported his injuries as minor. Reports also confirmed that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was unharmed.
Lebanese Public Health Minister Firass Abiad noted that the majority of injuries presented in emergency rooms were to the hands and face. Victims spanned a wide age range, from elderly individuals to young children, some in civilian clothing, as he described to the BBC’s Newshour program. Beyond Lebanon, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based campaign group, reported 14 injuries from similar blasts in neighboring Syria.
Potential for Escalation in the Hezbollah-Israel Conflict
Hezbollah, a key component of Iran’s Axis of Resistance, has maintained a protracted, low-intensity conflict with Israel for months, marked by frequent exchanges of rockets and missiles across Israel’s northern border. This ongoing conflict has already displaced entire communities on both sides.
These recent explosions occurred shortly after Israel’s security cabinet declared the safe return of northern residents as an official war objective. During a visit to an Israeli airbase on Wednesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Israel was “opening a new phase in the war” with the “center of gravity shifting to the north through the diversion of resources and forces”.
Despite heightened tensions, observers note that both sides have, until now, aimed to contain hostilities, avoiding a full-scale war. However, there are growing concerns that these latest events could trigger an uncontrollable escalation, pushing the region closer to a broader conflict.
Additional reporting by Frances Mao
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