At the same time, thousands of pagers exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday afternoon, wounding some 3,000 people; at least nine survived the coordinated attack, which was apparently planned by Israeli intelligence. Fighters from the pro-Iranian terrorist militia Hezbollah were the targets. They were caught shopping, on motorbikes and at home, according to numerous security camera recordings.
According to media reports, the detonated radio receivers were likely primed with explosives by Israeli agents. Many came from a shipment that Hezbollah received in recent days, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing informed sources. Israeli agents intercepted the devices before they arrived in Lebanon and loaded them with about 25 to 50 grams of explosives, the New York Times reported.
Explosives that have already been placed during production?
Reuters news agency spoke to a senior security official about the possible manipulation of the communications equipment. He said: “The Mossad has placed a circuit board with explosives and a code in the device. It is very difficult to detect this in any way, even with devices or scanners.” The official suspects that the explosives were already placed in the devices during production.
Hungarian company website offline
Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, whose logo was featured on the pagers, denies any responsibility. It says the devices ordered by Hezbollah were manufactured by an authorized partner in Hungary. “Under an agreement, we give BAC permission to use our trademark to sell products in certain regions, but the design and production will be handled entirely by BAC,” Gold Apollo said in a statement Wednesday morning. The AR-924 model mentioned in the media reports is also manufactured and sold by the company BAC Consulting.
According to research by Hungarian media, the company is based in Budapest (see photo above) and was founded in 2022. According to its own website, which was offline on Wednesday, the company is engaged in telecommunications solutions, among other things.
Among the victims was also a girl
According to Hezbollah, pagers used by various Hezbollah units and institutions exploded. Among the injured were reportedly many Hezbollah fighters, including members of the elite Radwan force. Senior Hezbollah officials were also injured, a source close to the militia confirmed. Explosions were reported throughout the country, especially in Hezbollah-controlled areas. At the same time, civilians were also affected by the consequences: among the dead was a girl.
It is not yet entirely clear how the explosions of the prepared pagers were caused. Technology experts are puzzling and presenting different versions of how this could have happened. What emerges is that the targeted persons probably received two signals: one to make them pick up their devices and look at them and another to cause the explosion.
Acting Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad visited victims in several hospitals and said that people suffered injuries mainly to their eyes and other parts of their faces, but also to their hands and abdomens. Many victims were likely carrying the beepers in their hands or pockets when they went off.
A report from the news portal ‘Axios’ gives an explosive reason why such a treacherous attack was carried out now. An unnamed US official said it would likely be a surprise opening strike in an all-out war against Hezbollah. There was also great fear that Israeli plans would be exposed.
Insider: Israel feared plan would come to light
In fact, signs of a major war between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia have been growing in recent days. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to his office, said during a meeting with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein that the only way to guarantee the return of Israeli refugees to their homes in the north is “a military operation.” Now Hezbollah is vowing retaliation, with leader Hassan Nasrallah reportedly planning to make a speech on Thursday.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
