(VIDEO) Thousands of Hezbollah Members Injured After Pagers Explode in Alleged Israeli Hack
(VIDEO) Security observers in Lebanon describe the incident as the most significant “breach” in the Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (C3I) systems of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Up to 2,000 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Syria have reportedly been injured and rushed to hospitals after their pagers suddenly and simultaneously exploded, allegedly due to hacking by Israel.
Unconfirmed initial reports indicate that between five and ten people were killed, including the son of a Hezbollah Member of Parliament, as a result of the pager explosions.
According to a statement by Hezbollah, the incident occurred around 3:30 pm local time.
Hezbollah members use pagers as part of their internal communication system, and the explosions were reported to have taken place simultaneously across various parts of Lebanon and Syria.
Security observers in Lebanon describe the incident as the most significant “breach” in the Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (C3I) systems of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
As of now, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the pager explosions.
However, Israeli media and several Lebanese outlets allege that the incident, which resulted in injuries to hundreds of Hezbollah members, was orchestrated by Israeli security forces.
Local media reports indicate that hospitals and health centers in parts of Lebanon are overwhelmed with injured Hezbollah fighters seeking treatment following the pager explosions.
Early reports suggest that Israeli intelligence agency installed a small amount of plastic explosive (PETN) into the Taiwan-made pager and detonate it simultaneously using a code.
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) , is an explosive material.
The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Motjaba Amani, and several senior leaders of the militant group were also reportedly injured in the explosions, although their identities have not been disclosed.
Motjaba reportedly lost his eyesight due to the explosion.
A pager
Security sources informed Lebanese media that the pagers used by Hezbollah fighters were manufactured by a Taiwan company.
Hezbollah is said to have imported thousands of the latest pager models from the Taiwanese company for use in their internal communication system.
Before this there were allegation that the pagers used by Hezbollah members were manufactured by a well-known American telecommunication giant.
Hezbollah has prohibited its members from using mobile phones due to concerns that the Israeli military could use modern telecommunications equipment to track their locations.
For this reason, the group prefers pagers, considering them “outdated” but “safer” compared to mobile phones. – DSA