Israel targets civilians in Lebanon, 11 killed, 200 critical, over 3,000 injured in Pager attacks across Lebanon. Immediately after the attack Firass Abiad Lebanon’s Caretaker Health Minister briefed the press. He said, “So far, the emergency department of the Ministry of Health has recorded more than 2,800 injuries. 200 of which were in critical condition that required either surgical intervention or entry into the Intensive Care Units. We have also recorded a number of Martyrs. The number so far has reached 8 martyrs including a child in the Bekaa valley. Reports claim that, the sons of Hezbollah lawmakers Ali Ammar and Hassan Fadlallah and the daughter, 10, of a Hezbollah members were among the martyrs.
Hezbollah said, “It holds Israel fully responsible for the criminal aggression against civilians vowing “just punishment for this sinful aggression.”
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani was among the injured. He is currently under observation in a hospital.
When and where these devices were detonated?
At around 3:30 p.m. local time in southern Lebanon, including the Hezbollah strongholds in the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, and the eastern Bekaa Valley, detonations started. Residents of Dahiyeh reported that, these blasts lasted for almost an hour. These pagers detonated after ringing which, prompted users to hold the device in front of their faces to read its screen.
European-Taiwanese connection behind pager blasts across Lebanon
These blasts are said to have taken place due to new Taiwan-made pagers that the Lebanese outfit Hezbollah had recently acquired. These pagers were made by a European distributor for a Taiwan based manufacturer ‘Gold Apollo’. A New York Times, report claims that, “Israel hid explosives inside a batch of pagers ordered by Hezbollah from the Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo.” Images shared on social media from Lebanon show a picture of Gold Apollo AR924 model pager at the scene.
Hsu Ching-kuang, founder and chairperson of Gold Apollo told reporters on Wednesday, that his firm had signed a contract with a European distributor to use the Gold Apollo brand. Without revealing the name of the European distributor Hsu said his business relationship with this European distributor is three years old. He said, “Initially the European distributor only imported Gold Apollo’s other pager and communication products. Later, they asked for the right to use the Taiwanese company’s brand as they wanted to make their own pagers. Gold Apollo Chairperson Hsu said, “During the three year’s business only once the online payment from the European distributor was delayed for more than the normal time.”
Hsu, Chairperson, Gold Apollo, disowns pagers to be his product
The company alleged to have supplied these pagers have denied to have made hundreds of explosive-packed pagers used by Hezbollah members which exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria. On 18th September, Hsu, Chairperson, Gold Apollo, told reporters in Taipei, “They are not our products from beginning to end. How can we make products that are not ours?”
Lebanese PM Najib Mikati alleged Israel for carrying out pager attacks
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has accused Israel of being behind the pager explosions that took place on 17th September. He alleged Israel to modify the pagers destined for Lebanon and plant a small amount of explosives besides the battery of these pagers. In a cabinet meeting, Najib Mikati described the attack as a “serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by all standards.”
Condemning Israel for these pager attacks the Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary called it “Israeli aggression.”
Medical aid to the injured in Lebanon’s pager attack
The Lebanese Red Cross said it was on “high alert” in a statement shared on ‘X’ they said, “More than 30 Ambulances from the #LebaneseRedCross are responding to multiple bombings across South Lebanon, Bekaa Valley and the Southern Suburbs of Beirut. All our stations across Mount Lebanon and Beirut are on high alert!”
In another post on ‘X’ the Lebanese Red Cross said, “The Lebanese Red Cross is responding with 130 ambulances and more than 500 EMTs. Another 170 ambulances are on standby and ready to intervene and support.”
US says ‘Not Aware’ and had ‘No Involvement’
Replying to a question the US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “We are gathering information on this incident, I can tell you that US was not involved in it, the US was not aware of this incident in advance and at this point we are gathering information”.
Co-Owner of Trending Politics, Collin Rugg posted on ‘X’
Israel apparently intersected the pagers from Taiwan that detonated in the pockets of thousands of Hezbollah fighters before they reached Lebanon.
According to the New York Times, Israel tampered with the devices that Hezbollah ordered. They reportedly placed two ounces of explosive material next to the battery in each pager. “A switch was also embedded that could be triggered remotely to detonate the explosives, the Times reported.
Hezbollah fighters received the message at 3:30 p.m. Lebanon time that looked like it was coming from Hezbollah leadership. When the message came through, there was a brief pause presumably so the fighters would raise the pagers toward their face, before they detonated.
Over 2800 people wear injured 9 people were killed.
Hezbollah vows “Fair punishment to Israel”
Hezbollah said Israel would receive “its fair punishment” for the blasts. In another statement on Telegram Hezbollah, stated that, it would continue its fight in support of Gaza and will also avenge these pager attacks on Lebanon. The statement further said, “This path is ongoing and separate from the difficult reckoning that the criminal enemy must await for its massacre on Tuesday.”
News agency Reuters report claims to have spoken to a Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, he described the pager detonations as the “biggest security breach” the group has faced in nearly a year of conflict with Israel.
Israel ready “for attack and defence in all arenas”
Israeli military who is blamed for these sophisticated pager attacks across Lebanon and Syria, has been engaged in conflict with Hezbollah since the October 7, attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that triggered the Gaza war, marking the worst escalation in years.
On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, said Israel remains ready “for attack and defence in all arenas” without mentioning the pager attacks which occurred across Lebanon and in parts of Syria. He further said, “We will update immediately on any change to Home Front Command.”
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