Update: the number is now reported at around 2800 injuries and 9 deaths, but in the first moments afterward it was reported as around 1100.
1100 Hezbollah pagers suddenly explode in attack, resulting in injuries, no deaths.
The pagers had been delivered to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria by Iran, in an attempt to use low-tech to prevent Israel from cell phone tracking. Israel will not take responsibility, at least not at first.
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Pray for safety: Israel defense has stated that right now, Israel is closer to all-out war with Hezbollah than at any time since Oct 7. Clearly, this seems like an attempt to discourage Hezbollah from escalating.
It must be so demoralizing: 2800 Hezbollah fighters are suddenly forced to rethink their decision to accept a job offer from Iran. I pray that they will realize that it’s better to take the path of peace.
2024-09-18 Further updates:
As reported, the beeper explosions started around 3:30 in the afternoon and continued for about one hour:
“Experts were mystified by the explosions but several who spoke to Reuters said they doubted the battery alone would have been enough to cause the blasts.” – ToI
“The Israeli concerns that led to the decision to conduct the attack were first reported by Al-Monitor, which said two Hezbollah operatives raised suspicions about the pagers in recent days.” -Axios
“The unidentified [Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] member says the pager belonging to the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon had beeped for a few seconds before he raised it. According to the outlet, the envoy has lost one eye and the blast severely injured his second.” -NYT, ToI
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Photo Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/some-1000-said-wounded-in-coordinated-hezbollah-pager-detonation-no-deaths-reported/ Articles: https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-riddle-wrapped-in-a-mystery-inside-a-pager-what-we-know-about-the-hezbollah-beeper-blasts/ https://www.axios.com/2024/09/18/hezbollah-pager-explosions-israel-suspicions https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/irgc-member-to-nyt-hezbollah-pagers-beeped-for-a-few-seconds-so-users-would-hold-them-up-to-read/