Hezbollah explosions/ Beirut blasts/ Lebanon funeral attack/ pager bombings/ Hezbollah security incident/ Hezbollah pager explosions/ pager blasts in Lebanon/ Israeli attack on Hezbollah/ Newslooks/ Lebanon/ Beirut/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Explosions erupted at a funeral in Beirut on Wednesday for three Hezbollah members and a child who were killed by explosive devices hidden in pagers the day before. Multiple areas across Lebanon experienced similar blasts, with Hezbollah-linked sources reporting that walkie-talkies used by the group were also involved in the explosions. Pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria exploded on Tuesday, killing at least 12 and injuring nearly 3,000. The devices, believed to be part of an Israeli operation, were traced back to BAC Consulting, a Hungarian company. A Taiwanese firm, Gold Apollo, authorized BAC to use its brand on the pagers. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have blamed Israel for the sophisticated attack.
Explosions Disrupt Hezbollah Funeral: Quick Looks
- Beirut Explosions: Blasts occurred at the funeral of Hezbollah members and a child killed in a pager explosion, causing chaos.
- Hezbollah’s Response: The group’s media, Al Manar TV, reported explosions in multiple areas across Lebanon, including Beirut.
- Explosive Devices: Hezbollah officials indicated that walkie-talkies used by the group were also rigged to explode.
- Funeral Disrupted: The explosions added further tension to an already volatile situation in Lebanon, where the group holds significant influence.
Exploding Hezbollah Pagers Traced to Hungarian Firm in Apparent Israeli Strike Quick Looks:
- Exploding pagers killed at least 12 people and injured nearly 3,000 in Lebanon and Syria, with Hezbollah blaming Israel.
- The pagers were manufactured by a Hungarian company, BAC Consulting, under a licensing agreement with Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo.
- The coordinated explosions occurred during escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
- Investigations suggest explosives were hidden inside the pagers and remotely detonated.
Explosions Rock Beirut Funeral for Hezbollah Members Killed in Pager Attack
Deep Look:
A series of explosions erupted at a funeral in Beirut on Wednesday, where mourners were gathered to pay respects to three Hezbollah members and a child who were killed in a deadly attack involving explosive devices hidden in pagers the day before. The blasts shocked those attending the funeral, further escalating tensions in Lebanon as Hezbollah officials scrambled to respond to the growing security crisis.
Journalists from the Associated Press on the ground reported hearing multiple explosions during the funeral procession, which was already charged with emotion following the deaths of the Hezbollah members and the child. Hezbollah’s own media outlet, Al Manar TV, quickly confirmed that the explosions were not limited to Beirut, but were heard across multiple areas of Lebanon.
The deadly explosions that occurred on Tuesday, which targeted pagers used by Hezbollah members, had already rattled the country. Hezbollah officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that walkie-talkies commonly used by members of the group were also rigged to explode as part of the coordinated attack. These officials, not authorized to speak publicly, indicated that Wednesday’s explosions appeared to follow a similar pattern, raising fears of further booby-trapped devices targeting the group.
The series of blasts interrupted the solemn funeral proceedings, casting a pall over what was already a tense and fraught moment for Hezbollah and its supporters. Funerals in Lebanon, particularly those involving Hezbollah members, are often highly symbolic events, drawing large crowds of mourners. Wednesday’s service was no exception, as it also included a child victim, further fueling public anger and sorrow.
Hezbollah, a powerful political and militant group based in Lebanon, has long been at odds with Israel, and tensions between the two have frequently flared into conflict. Although no official claim of responsibility has been made for the pager attack that killed the Hezbollah members, Israel is a primary suspect in the eyes of many in Lebanon, given the long-standing animosity between Hezbollah and the Israeli state.
The explosions mark a new, troubling development in the use of covert explosive devices in the region. While Hezbollah has been targeted by bombings and airstrikes in the past, the use of seemingly innocuous devices like pagers and walkie-talkies as weapons represents a shift in tactics, adding a new layer of unpredictability to the ongoing conflict.
As news of the explosions spread, Hezbollah supporters gathered outside the funeral site in Beirut to express their outrage and fear. Many called for a swift response to the attacks, with some blaming Israel for what they see as an increasingly aggressive campaign against the group. Hezbollah’s leadership has not yet publicly commented on the incident, but they are expected to address the attacks in the coming days.
The explosions come at a particularly sensitive time for Lebanon, a country already grappling with political instability, economic collapse, and widespread social unrest. Hezbollah, which holds significant political power in Lebanon, is both a central player in the country’s political landscape and a divisive figure, with strong support from some factions and staunch opposition from others.
The use of explosive devices at the funeral is likely to further complicate Lebanon’s fragile security situation, as it underscores the vulnerabilities of even high-profile Hezbollah members and the ongoing threat posed by covert operations. In recent months, tensions have been high across Lebanon, with Hezbollah increasingly on edge as it faces both internal dissent and external threats.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in the region this week for talks with Egyptian officials regarding the ongoing Gaza cease-fire negotiations, had earlier expressed frustration at similar escalations that threaten to derail efforts to broker peace. While not directly addressing Wednesday’s explosions in Lebanon, Blinken’s comments reflected the broader concern among international leaders about the volatile situation in the region and the increasing risk of further violence.
As the situation develops, Hezbollah is likely to tighten security measures, and the Lebanese government may be called upon to investigate the origins of the explosions. However, with Lebanon’s political system deeply fragmented and Hezbollah wielding significant influence, the path forward is unclear.
The explosions at the funeral are a reminder of the delicate balance of power in Lebanon and the broader Middle East, where long-standing animosities can quickly spiral into violence. As Hezbollah deals with the fallout from the attack, the threat of further escalations looms large, raising fears of more instability in an already volatile region.
Exploded Hezbollah Pagers Manufactured by Hungarian Co., Linked to Israel Strike
Deep Look:
A sophisticated attack on Tuesday using exploding pagers in Lebanon and Syria killed at least 12 people, including two children, and left nearly 3,000 others injured, according to Lebanese officials and Hezbollah. The militant group, as well as the Lebanese government, has blamed Israel for the explosions, which appear to have targeted Hezbollah’s communication network.
The attack is part of escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, with near-daily exchanges of fire since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. This latest incident has renewed fears that the ongoing clashes could spiral into a full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The pagers, known as AR-924 models, were manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, a company based in Budapest, Hungary. According to a statement released by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company, BAC Consulting had a licensing agreement to use the Gold Apollo brand on the pagers. Gold Apollo’s chairman, Hsu Ching-kuang, confirmed that the Hungarian company had been responsible for designing and manufacturing the devices.
The attack appears to have been carefully planned, with pagers heating up and then exploding simultaneously in the hands or pockets of Hezbollah members and civilians connected to the group. While Hezbollah’s fighters were the primary target, some civilians, including children, were also killed.
In a hospital tour on Wednesday, Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firas Abiad, revealed that many of the wounded had severe injuries, including eye damage and amputations. Countries including Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Egypt have offered medical assistance to treat the wounded.
Gold Apollo’s AR-924 pagers, known for their durability and long battery life, have been widely used by Hezbollah members to avoid Israeli surveillance of mobile networks. The devices are seen as a more secure means of communication in areas with limited electricity, such as Lebanon, where power outages are common due to the country’s economic collapse.
Pagers and a History of Surveillance:
Hezbollah has long sought to evade Israeli electronic surveillance by using alternative communication methods. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned his members not to rely on mobile phones, calling them “listening devices.” The group turned to pagers as a safer communication option, though Tuesday’s attack suggests that even these devices are vulnerable to Israeli intelligence operations.
Gold Apollo, the Taiwanese company whose brand appeared on the pagers, has exported over 260,000 units since 2022. However, the Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs said there are no records of direct sales of these pagers to Lebanon.
The attack comes at a time of escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Both sides have exchanged regular strikes since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, which triggered a large-scale Israeli counteroffensive. Tuesday’s explosions are expected to intensify tensions further, with Hezbollah warning that Israel should prepare for “another reckoning.”
As investigations into the incident continue, Israeli officials have so far declined to comment on the matter, while an American official confirmed that Israel briefed the U.S. on the operation after the attack.
