Hundreds of Hezbollah members reportedly injured by exploding pagers | BBC News

Summary

A series of explosions has injured hundreds of Hezbollah fighters and civilians across Lebanon after their communication pagers were hacked, reportedly by Israel. The devices, used as a safer alternative to mobile phones due to past sabotage concerns, detonated almost simultaneously in various locations, including Beirut. While most explosions caused non-lethal injuries, they have heightened tensions, especially as Israel aims to push Hezbollah further north. Iran's ambassador to Lebanon was also injured. The event raises fears of an escalated conflict between Hezbollah and Israel amidst the ongoing Gaza war.

Takeaways

• 💥 Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters have been injured due to their communication devices exploding across Lebanon.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The explosions are being described as an unprecedented hostile act, and Iran's ambassador to Lebanon is reported to be among the injured.
• 🛒 One of the explosions took place in a supermarket in Beirut, where a pager detonated in a bag carried by a man.
• 🚑 Many injuries have been reported, with ambulances rushing through Beirut and other parts of Lebanon to assist the wounded.
• 🩸 Lebanon's Health Ministry has called for blood donations and hospital staff to report for duty as the number of injured rises.
• 📟 The devices that exploded were pagers, not mobile phones, as Hezbollah had ordered the use of pagers to avoid mobile phone hacking.
• 🔐 Unnamed security officials claim the pagers were hacked by Israel, although Israel has not commented on the matter.
• 💣 The explosions were not designed to be lethal but have caused significant injuries, some of which were severe.
• 🚀 The explosions come amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel aiming to push Hezbollah further north from the border.
• 🇮🇷 There are concerns that this event may escalate tensions, potentially involving Iran and leading to further conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Q & A

What was the breaking news event described in the transcript?

The breaking news involved the detonation of communication devices, specifically pagers, used by Hezbollah fighters and others across Lebanon. Hundreds of people were injured as a result.

What type of devices were involved in the explosions?

The devices involved were pagers, not mobile phones. These pagers were used by Hezbollah fighters and officials for communication.

Why were Hezbollah members using pagers instead of mobile phones?

Hezbollah ordered its members to use pagers rather than mobile phones due to the risk of mobile phones being sabotaged, citing past incidents where Israeli intelligence used mobile phones to target individuals.

What is the significance of Yahya Ayyash's assassination in this context?

Yahya Ayyash, a Hamas bomb maker, was assassinated by Israeli intelligence in 1996 using an exploding mobile phone, which set a precedent for Hezbollah’s decision to avoid using mobile phones due to similar sabotage fears.

Who has been suspected of tampering with these devices?

Unnamed security officials have suggested that Israel was behind the tampering of the pagers, though Israel has not commented on the matter.

Were the pager explosions fatal?

Most of the pager explosions were low charge and did not appear to be designed to kill. While they caused serious injuries, the vast majority were not fatal.

What broader conflict does this event relate to?

The pager explosions are part of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, particularly along the Lebanon-Israel border, which has seen exchanges of fire and heightened tensions.

What is Hezbollah’s military strength in the region?

Hezbollah is considered the most powerful non-state military force in the Middle East, with a massive arsenal of rockets that they can launch at Israel.

What are the potential political and military repercussions of this event?

This event is likely to escalate tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, with expectations of Hezbollah retaliating, possibly with Iran’s support. The risk of a wider conflict in the region remains high.

How is Lebanon’s civilian population affected by the ongoing conflict?

Lebanon's civilian population is suffering as the country’s economy is in a dire state. There is widespread concern that any further escalation of the conflict with Israel could devastate Lebanon even more.

Outlines

00:00

📰 Breaking News: Hezbollah Devices Explode

An unprecedented incident in the Middle East has seen hundreds of Hezbollah fighters injured as their communication devices, specifically pagers, exploded across Lebanon. The devices, suspected to be hacked, were widely used by Hezbollah members, including medics and officials, to avoid mobile phone tracking. Israel is widely believed to be behind this act, although it has not commented. Injuries have been reported across several locations, including Beirut, and there is a significant medical emergency underway. This incident marks one of the most significant security breaches for Hezbollah, raising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah further.

05:00

🚑 Lebanon in Crisis: Fear of Escalation

Large crowds gather at hospitals in Beirut as the injured from the pager explosions are brought in, including Iran's ambassador to Lebanon. The incident has escalated fears of a broader conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which has already been engaged in clashes with Hamas in Gaza. Recent assassinations by Israel of key figures in Hezbollah and Hamas have fueled the tensions, and retaliation is anticipated. While Hezbollah is one of the most powerful non-state military forces in the region, any significant escalation would severely impact Lebanon's already struggling economy. Diplomatic tensions are running high, with concerns that this could lead to a larger regional conflict.

Keywords

💡Hezbollah

Hezbollah is a powerful Shiite political and militant group based in Lebanon. In the context of the script, it is central to the news, as its fighters and officials have been affected by a series of pager explosions, which were allegedly hacked by Israel. Hezbollah's actions, particularly along the border with Israel, have led to ongoing conflict.

💡Pager Explosions

The script details the unprecedented event of pagers exploding across Lebanon, affecting Hezbollah fighters and civilians. These explosions are significant as they reflect a possible high-tech sabotage by Israel, highlighting vulnerabilities in Hezbollah's communication strategies, especially after shifting away from mobile phones for security reasons.

💡Israel

Israel is a central actor in the conflict with Hezbollah. In the transcript, Israeli intelligence (though not confirmed by Israel) is suspected of orchestrating the sabotage of Hezbollah’s communication devices. Israel’s broader military and intelligence operations against Hezbollah are mentioned, including attempts to push Hezbollah forces away from the border.

💡Beirut

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is a focal point in the script as several pager explosions occurred there. The city's southern suburbs, known as a Hezbollah stronghold, were particularly affected, with many injured brought to medical facilities in the area.

💡Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon

The script mentions that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was among those injured by the pager explosions. This adds a geopolitical layer to the incident, as Iran is a key supporter of Hezbollah, and any harm to Iranian officials could escalate tensions in the region.

💡Gaza War

The Gaza War, particularly the conflict that began after the October 7th massacre, is a backdrop to Hezbollah’s increased caution in using mobile phones, leading to the switch to pagers. This ongoing war between Israel and Hamas (Hezbollah's ally) ties into the broader Middle Eastern tensions described in the transcript.

💡Shin Bet

Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, is suspected of being behind the sabotage of Hezbollah’s communication devices, although Israel has not confirmed this. The group is responsible for intelligence and counterterrorism operations within Israel and in Palestinian territories.

💡Low-charge Explosions

The pagers used by Hezbollah reportedly contained low-charge explosives, enough to cause injuries but not fatalities in most cases. These explosions served as a strategic warning rather than a lethal attack, meant to disrupt Hezbollah’s communication and send a clear message.

💡Revenge

Revenge is a key concept in the ongoing Hezbollah-Israel conflict. The assassination of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders by Israel, as well as the damage caused by the pager explosions, is expected to lead to some form of retaliation from Hezbollah. The cycle of violence and revenge is a recurring theme in the Middle Eastern conflict described in the script.

💡Southern Suburbs of Beirut

The southern suburbs of Beirut are a Hezbollah stronghold, and many pager explosions and injuries occurred here. This area is also where Hezbollah commander Fadi Shukur was assassinated by Israel in July, further intensifying the conflict. It serves as a significant geographic and political setting for the events in the script.

Highlights

Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters injured by exploding communication devices across Lebanon, described as an unprecedented hostile act.

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon is reportedly among those affected by the device explosions.

Explosions of these devices, mostly pagers, occurred in various locations, including Beirut and southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's Health Ministry has urged people to donate blood and staff to report to hospitals due to the high number of injuries.

Unnamed security officials claim the pagers were hacked by Israel, though Israel has not commented.

These devices were believed to be a safer option by Hezbollah due to previous incidents involving sabotaged mobile phones.

The explosions, while causing serious injuries, were not designed to be lethal, though hundreds have been injured.

This incident coincides with Israel extending its war aims to expel Hezbollah from the border regions.

The low-grade conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced thousands on both sides of the border.

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon is among those injured in the pager explosions.

Reports suggest the pagers were newly ordered by Hezbollah in recent months and used by fighters, medics, and officials.

There is a fear that this incident could escalate tensions and lead to a wider conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Hezbollah vowed revenge after previous Israeli assassinations of its leaders and Hamas commanders.

Israel's intelligence agencies, including Shin Bet and Mossad, are suspected of being behind the incident, though they have not confirmed involvement.

Lebanese authorities are urging Hezbollah not to escalate the conflict, citing the fragile state of Lebanon's economy and infrastructure.

Transcripts

start with that breaking news from the

Middle East because hundreds of

Hezbollah Fighters have been injured by

their communication devices exploding

across Lebanon what's been described as

an unprecedented hostile act Iran's

ambassador to Lebanon is reported to

have been among those affected well let

me just show you the moment that one

pager exploded in a supermarket in

bayout there you see people rushing away

the explosion in the foreground

apparently it was in a bag been carried

by a man and that just one of the

locations and similar things have been

reported in so many different parts of

Lebanon in Beirut in southern Lebanon

other videos posted online show people

with injuries some of them really severe

ambulances have been seen rushing

through the southern suburbs of Beirut

to Hezbollah stronghold lebanon's Health

Ministry has called on staff to report

to hospitals and for people to donate

blood it said anyone with a pager should

immediately discarded unnamed security

officials say the pages were hacked by

Israel which hasn't commented Hezbollah

official called it the biggest security

breach suffered by the group well with

me in the studio is our security

correspondent Frank Gardner and Frank

these still the the early details of

this it was first being reported uh less

than two hours ago take me through first

of all what we know sure I mean it's

extraordinary this um almost

unprecedented I can't think of any case

where you've got a simultaneous almost

simultaneous explosion of so many

personal devices now these were not

mobile phones they were Pages which

sounds very 20th century but the reason

for that is that when the Gaza War uh or

conflict began after October 7th

massacre in southern Israel um an order

went out by hasbalah to its people not

to use mobile phones in case they were

sabotaged and the reason for that is

there's a bit of History here is that

back

in January 1996 somebody called Yahya

aesh who was known as El mandis the the

engineer he was the chief bomb maker for

Hamas and he was assassinated by shinb

Israeli intelligence with an exploding

mobile phone so people have always been

a bit wary of those and what H yet what

happened this afternoon was the almost

simultaneous detonation of these devices

these pages that had been used by

hundreds of Hezbollah not just Fighters

but Medics officials and others they

appear to have been tampered with at

some stage they've been ordered

relatively recently in some cases only

received with the last few days Israel

is not commenting on who might have been

behind it Frank before I ask you the

next question I want to put on the

screen again just that video of one of

the explosions because you were just

describing how there are so many blasts

and there you see it in the in the

foreground uh an explosion in a bag you

mentioned that it wasn't a mobile phone

it was Pages I'm reading here and it's

been quoted three security sources

talking to Reuters saying that the pages

uh that were detonated were the latest

model brought in by Hezbollah in recent

months so exactly as you're saying these

are all things that they had purchased

in the last few weeks yeah and that they

thought that they were doing the safest

option um interestingly these devices

are don't appear to be designed to be

lethal so they've they've um inflicted

some very n wounds some injuries on

people many of whom are in civilian

dress now they may or may not work for

Hezbollah they may be bystanders but you

know there's there are hundreds of

wounded have' been brought to hospitals

across Lebanon mainly in the southern

suburbs of dya in beut um but they are

for the most part low charge so you know

not packing enough to actually kill

somebody in the vast majority of cases

but to send a very strong message and

let's not forget that this comes on the

same day that Israel has extended its

War aims to include expelling Hezbollah

basically from the border so the low

grade ongoing conflict that Israel has

with Lebanon on the sou on that border

the joint border they've got has driven

roughly 60,000 Israelis away from their

homes and businesses on the Israeli side

of the Border a bigger number than that

on the Lebanese side hundreds of

casualties in total on both sides and

there's a lot of political pressure on

Israel's cabinet to deal with this once

and for all to deal with the problem of

Hezbollah firing rockets and drones and

missiles across that border they want to

push Hezbollah north of What's called

the Lani river which is technically at

the end of the 2006 War that's where it

was supposed to have stayed but they've

crept South and that's why there is this

ongoing exchange of fire Frank before I

ask you the next question let me just

show you the live pictures from one of

those medical centers that

we have pictures coming into us from

bayroot because large amounts of people

around one of those Hospital centers

there you can see just scores of people

waiting I suppose for updates and some

of the injured being taken to Medical

establishments like that now it is being

reported by reuter that Iran's

ambassador to Lebanon is one of those

injured you were making the point in

terms of the whole backdrop to this but

the fear has always been about a wider

war between Hezbollah and Israel

alongside that war that's already going

on with Hamas in Gaza this adds to all

of those fears doesn't it it does and

remember that uh it wasn't that long ago

on I think it was July the 30th that

Israel admitted assassinating somebody

called f shukar in the southern suburbs

very close to where most of this is

concentrated Southern subur was a beut

and he was a senior commander in

Hezbollah he was assassinated with a

Precision drone strike that hit him in a

building Israel um openly admitted it

that was followed of course a day later

by the assassination of Ismael hania in

Teran which Israel has not uh owned up

to but everybody assumes it was them he

was the political leader of Hamas so

after that hasbalah vowed Revenge um the

have there was a sort of flurry of

rockets from Hezbollah and Hezbollah

after that said right score settled for

now um this I think regardless of the

fact that Israel hasn't commented on it

is going to be laid at the door of shinb

or mosad Israel's intelligence agencies

Hezbollah will expect to demand some

kind of retaliation some sort of Revenge

um and Iran of course will probably

support them at least verbally and

diplomatically uh and possibly even with

Supply further weapons because Hezbollah

are the most powerful non-state military

force in the Middle East they are a

force to be reckoned with they've got a

massive arsenal of rockets which is sort

of poised should they choose to launch

them at Israel now the retaliation would

decimate Lebanon the Lebanese are saying

please don't our economy is on Dar State

we're on our knees please don't up the

war with Israel anymore than it is

already but that's why it's a very

febrile tense atmosphere and you're

right something like this could tip it

over the edge Frank Gardner thanks very

much for that analysis