UPDATE: About 1000 Hezbollah members injured in a suspected Israeli breach

UPDATE: About 1000 Hezbollah members injured in a suspected Israeli breach
2024-09-17T14:02:51+00:00

Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, more than 1000 Hezbollah members were injured after communication devices (pagers) they were carrying exploded in Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry has called on all hospitals to remain on high alert to accommodate emergency patients and advised individuals to distance themselves from pagers. Additionally, the ministry urged healthcare workers to avoid using wireless devices and called for blood donations in response to the incident.

A Hezbollah official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media told The Associated Press, the explosions were the result of “a security operation that targeted the devices.”

“The enemy (Israel) stands behind this security incident,” the official said, adding that the new “pagers that Hezbollah members were carrying had lithium batteries that apparently exploded.”

Israel did not officially comment on the incident.

Lithium batteries, when overheated, can emit smoke, melt, or even catch fire. Fires caused by these batteries can reach temperatures of up to 590°C (1,100°F).

Experts claim that Israel can remotely detonate devices, either by causing their batteries to explode or by rigging the batteries themselves with small amounts of explosives, ranging from 10 to 20 grams. These devices are typically worn on the waist or kept in a pocket.

Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, had previously warned his fighters against using smartphones. A few months ago, Nasrallah issued orders for them to stop using the devices, highlighting Israel’s advanced technology that allows it to infiltrate and compromise smartphone communications.

The incident occurs amid escalating tensions between Lebanon and Israel. For over 11 months, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily clashes, intensified by the broader conflict involving Hezbollah’s ally, Hamas, in Gaza. These confrontations have resulted in hundreds of casualties in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, displacing tens of thousands on both sides of the border.

On Tuesday, Israel announced that a key objective of its military strategy is to halt Hezbollah's attacks in the north to facilitate the return of residents to their homes.

 

 

 

 

 

Shafaq Live
Shafaq Live
Radio radio icon