Iran’s Foreign Ministry has condemned a series of deadly pager explosions in Lebanon, labeling the incident as "mass murder" and attributing it to Israel. The explosions, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in nine deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. Iran has denounced the attack as a "terrorist act" carried out by the "Zionist regime," intensifying the already strained relations between Iran, Israel, and Hezbollah.
The explosions targeted pagers used by Hezbollah members, causing significant damage. Reports indicate that Israel's Mossad had tampered with the devices before they were deployed by Hezbollah. According to a Lebanese security source, the pagers were rigged with explosives that detonated after receiving a coded signal. Of the 5,000 pagers, around 3,000 exploded simultaneously, causing widespread devastation.
A Hezbollah official admitted that this incident represents a severe counterintelligence failure for the group. The pagers, sourced from Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, were originally intended for secure communication. However, Mossad's modification of these devices with explosive materials went undetected by Hezbollah. The devices were designed to display text messages without allowing voice communication, a feature intended to evade Israeli tracking.
Gold Apollo has denied involvement in the production of the rigged pagers, stating that the devices were manufactured by BAC, a company that had licensed Gold Apollo’s brand. The company's founder clarified that Gold Apollo had no direct role in the production of the tainted devices.
The attack has prompted Hezbollah to vow retaliation against Israel. The group announced that it would continue its operations to support Gaza and its resistance efforts, while also warning of severe consequences for the "criminal enemy" in response to the attack.
Tensions in the region have escalated further since the Gaza conflict began on October 7, with ongoing exchanges of fire and Israeli airstrikes into Lebanese territory. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned of the diminishing chances for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff with Hezbollah.
Despite the heightened tensions, experts suggest that the pager explosions, while indicative of deep intelligence penetration, do not necessarily signal an impending ground offensive. The operation demonstrates Israel’s significant intelligence capabilities but does not necessarily point to immediate military action.
Hezbollah's recent shift from mobile phones to pagers, following warnings from its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah about phone security, has now resulted in severe casualties. The group’s reliance on pagers, initially seen as a precaution, has backfired, leading to numerous injuries among its members.
The deadly explosions highlight the ongoing and volatile nature of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, with both sides suffering heavy losses. As the situation continues to evolve, the incident underscores the complex intelligence and military dynamics shaping the conflict in the Middle East.
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