In the last eighteen hours, global media has been shocked by reports of series of explosions involving thousands of pagers in Lebanon. The event, which has been widely linked to Israeli warnings to Hezbollah to cease its attacks, has captured headlines worldwide. According to the Wall Street Journal, “hundreds of Hezbollah members’ summonses exploded in what appeared to be an attack,” describing it as a deliberate strike.

Ironically, this situation unfolded due to direct orders from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who instructed his operatives to stop using mobile phones to evade Israeli surveillance after their prominent commander, Fuad Shukr, was killed. In an effort to avoid detection, Nasrallah gave an order to use a specific pager model, the Gold Apollo, believing it to be a safer alternative. However, these very devices – which meant to protect Hezbollah members from tracking – exploded yesterday, causing a significant number of casualties within their ranks.

The New York Times provided further context, reporting that “subpoenas exploded across Lebanon after Israel warned Hezbollah.” Images of the wounded accompanied the article, showcasing the tragic aftermath. Similarly, The Washington Post highlighted the large number of injured, noting that Hezbollah operatives had been targeted, and that the explosions left a significant toll, with CNN estimating at least eight dead and 2,800 wounded. CNN added that this attack followed Israel’s announcement of updated war goals, which included securing the return of Israeli residents to the northern part of the country.

France’s Le Monde also chimed in, reporting that explosions occurred in neighbouring Damascus, resulting in several fatalities. Their coverage noted calls from Lebanese health officials for blood donations to meet the urgent needs of the injured. Spiegel in Germany speculated that Hezbollah’s communication system had been hacked, leading to the devastating explosions, while Bild, known for its pro-Israel stance, reported widespread panic among Hezbollah’s ranks.

A source cited by Reuters indicated that the explosive devices may have been part of a recent shipment to Hezbollah, with outdated technology that may have failed to evade modern surveillance. A senior Hezbollah figure suggested that malware could have been planted in the pagers, which may have triggered their detonation. An Italian electronics expert, speaking to Corriere Della Sera, proposed that micro-charges hidden in the pagers, not their batteries, were likely responsible.

The British Daily Mail and Danish Politiken both noted the surreal nature of the operation, with Politiken describing it as “something out of science fiction.” This operation, initially seen as a safeguard for Hezbollah’s members, turned into a devastating covert attack that left the militia scrambling to understand how their strategy had backfired so dramatically.

Interestingly, much of the international news coverage appears to convey a sense of sympathy for Hezbollah, portraying the terrorists as if they were victims of this covert attack. Reports have subtly framed Hezbollah as an innocent party, outmanoeuvred by sophisticated tactics. These narratives seem to overlook a crucial aspect: Hezbollah is not just any party but a well-known terror organisation that has actively supported Hamas by bombing northern Israel for almost a year. That assault forced over 60,000 Israelis to become refugees in their own country, fleeing their homes under the constant threat of rocket fire. This broader context has been largely neglected in the rush to emphasise the immediate damage to Hezbollah, an organisation that has long been a perpetrator of violence in the region.

Image credit: al-monitor.com