On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, a coordinated series of explosions shook Lebanon, killing at least nine people so far and injuring more than 2,800. The blasts occurred when pagers detonated almost simultaneously in areas where the Hezbollah maintains a strong presence, including Beirut and the Bekaa Valley. The Wall Street Journal reported that the affected pagers were from a new shipment that Hezbollah had received in recent days.
Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firass Abiad, confirmed the casualties, and the injured included both Hezbollah members and civilians. Among the dead was a 10-year-old girl, whose father, a Hezbollah member, carried one of the explosive devices. According to Iran state media, Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured as well.
The affected pagers reportedly came from a recent shipment, and a Hezbollah official speculated that malware may have been responsible for triggering the explosions. Some individuals reported feeling their pagers heat up and discarding them before the devices detonated. Hezbollah has launched an internal investigation into the breach, but has not placed blame on any country or group.
Though Lebanon’s government condemned the explosions as an act of “Israeli aggression,” no official statement from Israel has been made. This incident further escalates tensions in a region already destabilized by prolonged hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
Hospitals across Lebanon, particularly in Beirut, were overwhelmed with injured civilians and Hezbollah fighters, prompting calls for urgent blood donations and medical aid. Investigations are ongoing, but the explosions have deepened fears of increasing instability in Lebanon.
