A strange wave of explosions involving electronic communication devices has killed at least nine people, including a child, and left more than 2,700 injured across Lebanon, with about 200 in critical condition. Lebanese authorities confirmed the incidents, triggered by a massive detonation of pagers used by Hizballah members at multiple sites in southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, all areas controlled by the Islamist militia.
Beepers are simple messaging devices that require no SIM card and no internet connection. Photos circulating online show people killed with injuries around the waist where these devices are typically carried. Some images capture the moment of the blast: a man buying fruit collapses to the ground after the explosion. Hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured, with the public health system stretched to its limits in Beirut and across affected regions.
Breaking News: Dozens of Hizballah members were wounded across Lebanon after their encrypted beepers exploded simultaneously. This event is described as the largest security breach Hizballah has faced to date. Reports appear on social media and from observers detailing the chaos and medical evacuations that followed.
Breaking news
But how could this be possible? The Israeli military has not confirmed responsibility for the incident.
“Beepers represent a primitive technology, similar to early mobile phones, and they generally lack an operating system to hack or a built‑in lithium battery,” said a security and defense analyst. “The most plausible explanation is that Hizballah’s technical department may have inserted a small explosive payload into the devices, triggering detonation on the same day.” The plastic explosive RDX is often used in military contexts, adding a potent dimension to the blast.
In recent months Hizballah shifted away from standard mobile devices to these beepers, which are harder to interfere with. That change may have created new opportunities for manipulation. Perhaps this shift opened a window for external involvement in the devices themselves.
Another possibility is that the beepers purchased were a more advanced version that used a lithium battery, and hackers could have managed to overheat the battery to trigger an explosion. Early images appear to show a Rugged Pager AR92 model, circulating on social platforms.
Local media report that a number of the injured are militants from the Islamist movement. The group itself has acknowledged the death of several of its members in the attacks, underscoring the broader conflict environment surrounding these events.
Retaliation for Attacks on Northern Israel
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Cross‑border clashes between Israel and Hizballah have intensified in recent months, with hundreds of casualties reported. Hizballah began firing rockets into southern Israel following the Hamas attacks of early October. Israel continues to hold positions in several Lebanese localities, including the Shebaa Farms area, while a UN mission maintains a presence in the region, led by a Spanish general who oversees interposition efforts.
The current flare‑up has raised fears of a broader regional escalation. In parallel, Hamas attacks on Israel have resulted in substantial casualties, and Israeli retaliation has led to a devastating toll in Gaza, with tens of thousands dead and the territory left in ruins and largely uninhabitable. The intensity of these exchanges emphasizes the fragile balance in the region and the potential for further spillover into neighboring countries.
Israel has announced the removal of senior Hizballah and Hamas figures in connected theaters of operation across Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. Iran has responded with missiles directed at Israeli targets, while Yemeni Houthis have launched cruise missiles that threaten regional shipping in the Red Sea corridor, adding another layer of risk to already tense waters and airspaces.
Hawks Call for Attacks on Lebanon
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Some far‑right and ultra‑orthodox factions within Israel’s government are urging a broader strike against Lebanon. The prime minister has stated that operations in Gaza will continue until displaced residents can return to their homes, while tens of thousands more have been forced to flee the south of Lebanon.
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The Lebanese Health Ministry has called on doctors to report to emergency rooms and on the public to donate blood, reflecting the scale of the medical crisis. Ambulance fleets are stretched thin, and numerous clinics are operating at full capacity to manage the volume of patients.
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