Hezbollah Promises Response After Deadly Beeper Explosion Attributed to Israeli Operations
In a devastating incident echoing the intensifying conflict in the region, the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah has vowed to deliver a specific response to what it calls an Israeli massacre from a coordinated explosion of beepers among its ranks. This abhorrent event, occurring on Wednesday, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least nine individuals and left thousands injured with varying degrees of severity across Lebanon and Syria.
Following the attack, Hezbollah issued a message affirming its ongoing support for Gaza and the resistance against Israel, reiterating its commitment to defending Lebanon, its people, and its sovereignty. The group indicated that it would take action in light of the incident.
The explosions reportedly involved the detonation of beepers containing 30 to 60 grams of explosives hidden in their batteries. The beepers were said to have been equipped with a remote detonating mechanism designed to trigger upon receipt of a specific message. Allegations are surfacing that Israeli intelligence, specifically the Mossad, orchestrated this operation, allegedly manipulating around 5,000 devices sold to Hezbollah.
In a statement regarding the situation, Taiwanese company Gold Apollo has distanced itself from the incident, claiming that it did not manufacture the devices. Hsu Chingkuang, the company president, emphasized that the beepers were improperly branded with Gold Apollo's logo without authorization and that the company intends to pursue legal action internationally over the misuse of its trademark.
The timeline of the incident indicates that Hezbollah had reportedly ordered approximately 3,000 beepers from Gold Apollo, which were allegedly tampered with before reaching Lebanese territory. Each device was programmed to emit a series of beeps before detonation, which occurred around 3:30 PM local time after receiving a deceptive message mimicking the Hezbollah command.
As a direct result of the explosions, the death toll has now risen to 12, with the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirming that approximately 2,800 people have been injured, with nearly 1,850 requiring hospitalization. The injured individuals were concentrated in Beirut and its suburbs, while others were affected in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs have attributed this incident to a cyber attack executed by Israel, although the Israeli government has yet to comment or confirm involvement in this tragedy.
In parallel, Israel's military reported intercepting a drone launched from Iraq earlier the same day, indicating heightened military tensions across its borders.
This situation raises significant questions regarding the vulnerability of such devices to hacking and remote attacks. As conflict escalates, the fallout from incidents like these threatens to embroil the region further in violence and retaliation.
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