The Pager Attack: This is What We Know

Hundreds, likely thousands, of people have exploded in a coordinated attack in Lebanon. A dozen people have been killed and several thousand have been injured. This is what we know about the attack.

» Updated: September 19 2024

» Published: September 18 2024

The Pager Attack: This is What We Know
Photo: Hassan Ammar/AP/TT

Share this article

Where and when?

Around 15:30 local time, large quantities of pagers suddenly exploded, allegedly belonging to members of the extremist Islamist Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The explosions occurred simultaneously in several areas of Lebanon, as well as in Syria. However, the majority took place in areas where Hezbollah has strongholds, such as in Beirut's southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley.

In many places, the explosions occurred in public areas during the afternoon rush, when many people were buying groceries, sitting in cafes, or caught in traffic. AP photographers report bloody scenes, panic-stricken people, and overcrowded hospitals.

.

How many are dead and injured?

Lebanon's Health Department reports that nine people have been killed. According to sources for AFP, two of the dead are sons of parliament members from Hezbollah's political wing. The sources also report that one of the dead is a young girl who was the daughter of a Hezbollah member.

Among the injured is also Iran's ambassador to Lebanon.

According to Lebanon's Health Minister, a total of 2,750 people have been injured, with around 200 seriously.

.

Why pagers?

After the outbreak of war between Palestinian Hamas and Israel last year, Hezbollah, following a call from leader Hassan Nasrallah, has increasingly abandoned smartphones in favor of more old-fashioned pagers. In this way, they have hoped to avoid surveillance and tracking, primarily from Israel.

The Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo claims that the manipulated pagers did not come from them, but from a company in Europe that had the right to use the company's brand: BAC, based in Budapest, Hungary.

.

How did the explosions occur?

According to Elijah J Magnier, a Brussels-based political risk analyst who AFP interviewed and who has spoken to Hezbollah members whose pagers did not explode, a false message was sent to the pagers. When the pagers began beeping and vibrating, the holders pressed the buttons to stop the signals. Then the explosions occurred due to a small amount of explosives placed inside the pagers.

.

Who is behind the attack?

Hezbollah accuses Israel's intelligence service Mossad of having hidden explosives in the pagers early in the production chain, before the pagers reached Lebanon.

Israel has not publicly commented on the attack.

Since the war in Gaza broke out last autumn, Israel and Hezbollah have attacked each other on a daily basis.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Zelensky Rejects Putin's Moscow Meeting Invitation
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Rejects Putin's Moscow Meeting Invitation

Israel Announces Flights to Humanitarian Zone in Khan Yunis
1 MIN READ

Israel Announces Flights to Humanitarian Zone in Khan Yunis

Norway Election Poll: Red-Greens Lead as Høyre Faces 16-Year Low
2 MIN READ

Norway Election Poll: Red-Greens Lead as Høyre Faces 16-Year Low

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches
1 MIN READ

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions
3 MIN READ

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club
2 MIN READ

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands
1 MIN READ

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release
1 MIN READ

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department
1 MIN READ

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah
1 MIN READ

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables
2 MIN READ

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War
2 MIN READ

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis
1 MIN READ

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution
4 MIN READ

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister
2 MIN READ

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister

Israeli Military Targets Gaza High-Rises Used by Hamas
1 MIN READ

Israeli Military Targets Gaza High-Rises Used by Hamas

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes
1 MIN READ

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister
1 MIN READ

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister

Finland Joins UN Declaration for Peaceful Gaza Solution
1 MIN READ

Finland Joins UN Declaration for Peaceful Gaza Solution