Published September 18,2024
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Israel focused Hezbollah by hiding explosive materials in Taiwan-made pagers imported into Lebanon, in keeping with a report citing American and different officers briefed on Tuesday’s pager explosions.
The New York Times, citing officers who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned the pagers the Lebanese group ordered from Gold Apollo in Taiwan had been tampered with earlier than arriving in Lebanon.
The majority have been the corporate’s AP924 mannequin, although the cargo additionally included three different Gold Apollo fashions, it added.
Small quantities of explosive materials, round one to 2 ounces, have been positioned subsequent to the battery in every pager, with a remotely triggered swap embedded to detonate them, the officers instructed the Times.
At 3.30 p.m. in Lebanon (1230GMT), pagers acquired a message that appeared to return from Hezbollah’s management however as a substitute triggered the explosives, it reported.
CNN additionally reported that Israel was accountable for the assault, which triggered 1000’s of Hezbollah members’ pagers to blow up concurrently.
At least 9 individuals together with a baby have been killed in a mass explosion of the pagers in areas throughout Lebanon, in keeping with Lebanese Health Minister Firas Al-Abiad.
He added that round 2,750 individuals have been additionally injured, together with 200 in crucial situation.
Hezbollah held Israel absolutely liable for the assault and vowed a “just retaliation from unexpected quarters.” There was no rapid remark from Israel.

The US mentioned it was not concerned in and was not conscious of the incident upfront and is gathering extra info.
The mass explosion got here amid an trade of cross-border assaults between Hezbollah and Israel towards the backdrop of a brutal Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip which has killed greater than 41,200 individuals, principally ladies and kids, following an assault by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 final 12 months.
Source: www.anews.com.tr