In a shocking turn of events, hundreds of pagers belonging to Hezbollah have exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, resulting in at least nine deaths and over 2,750 injuries.
Pager devices, once popular before the advent of mobile phones, operate on radio waves, making them harder to monitor compared to modern communication devices.
What happened during the explosions?
The explosions began at 4:45pm and lasted for an hour, causing casualties whose numbers are still being confirmed. Among the fatalities is an eight-year-old girl and the son of a Hezbollah MP. Hezbollah confirmed the loss of two fighters as well.
Who’s responsible for the attack?
While many suspect Israel’s involvement, the country has not claimed responsibility. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated recently, leading to speculation about Israel’s motives.
Why weren’t similar blasts observed in Gaza?
Hamas in Gaza is believed to be more cyber-aware, which might explain the absence of similar incidents there. Speculation suggests the hacking of the radio network that pagers rely on as a possible cause for the explosions.
Despite different theories, the exact reason for the explosions remains unclear, with experts suggesting possible tampering with the pagers along the supply chain.