Hezbollah, which operates both as a political and military organization in Lebanon, immediately blamed Israel for the attack. The group stated that this event marked its "biggest security breach" to date, claiming that Israel had infiltrated its telecommunications system. According to reports, hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded almost simultaneously, suggesting an advanced form of sabotage. Some sources suggested that the pagers, possibly containing hidden explosives near their batteries, were triggered remotely. Other theories pointed to a cyber-attack that caused the pagers' lithium batteries to overheat and explode.
Among the victims of the blasts was the 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member in the Bekaa Valley. In addition to casualties in Lebanon, fourteen people in Syria were also reported injured in similar pager explosions, highlighting the regional impact of the incident. Notably, the sons of Hezbollah lawmakers Ali Ammar and Hassan Fadlallah were among those killed in the blasts.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the deaths and injuries in a televised press conference, noting that the majority of the wounded had sustained injuries to their faces, hands, and stomachs. He added that over 200 of the injured were in critical condition.
Reports from Iranian state media indicated that Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also wounded in the explosions, though his injuries were not life-threatening. Iran, which provides extensive support to Hezbollah, has condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the group.
In a statement, Hezbollah warned Israel of impending retaliation, vowing to make Israel "pay the price" for what it described as a "sinful aggression." The group, already engaged in a low-intensity conflict with Israel along the Lebanon-Israel border since October 2023 in support of Hamas in Gaza, emphasized that this new escalation would be met with a strong response.
While Israel has not formally claimed responsibility for the pager attacks, Hezbollah has accused the Israeli military of using cyber warfare to compromise its telecommunications network. The New York Times reported that the explosive devices were allegedly concealed within Taiwanese-made pagers, though the manufacturer has denied involvement, asserting that the pagers used in the attack were produced by a European company.
The United States, a close ally of Israel, has denied any involvement in the incident. Meanwhile, Hamas, which has been at war with Israel in Gaza, condemned the attacks as an "escalation" and warned that they would ultimately lead to Israel's defeat.
As tensions between Hezbollah and Israel intensify, the potential for further conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border appears high, with Hezbollah preparing for a possible escalation in its ongoing confrontation with Israeli forces.
