Alejandra Drullard Rosario
On September 17, 2024, hundreds of pagers used by members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously across Lebanon. Many were shopping for groceries, sitting in cafes or driving through the streets, when pagers started to heat up in their hands or pockets and later explode.
This explosion killed at least 9 people and injured several thousands. It appeared eight of the dead belonged to Hezbollah. According to the BBC “Taiwanese company Gold Apollo said Wednesday that it authorized its brand on the AR-924 pagers used by the Hezbollah militant group, but the devices were produced and sold by a company called BAC.” The explosions caused chaos in many cities, leaving families in shock and fear. People rushed to hospitals to help the injured, while emergency teams worked hard to find survivors.
The Lebanese government began an investigation to understand how this could happen. Many citizens expressed anger and confusion, demanding answers about the safety of the devices. It had not been long since the Militant group first acquired these devices. Many shared that many of those hits were members of Hezbollah, the explosions were in areas the group frequented. a long-planned operation, carried out by infiltrating the supply chain and rigging the devices with explosives before they were delivered to Lebanon. “We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians,” Hezbollah said, adding that Israel will “for sure get its just punishment.” This statement increases the fear of citizens in and outside of Lebanon because of the assumption one can make of another war approaching. Following this horrific event, a second wave of attacks have hit Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.
On September 18, 2024, walkie-talkies exploded throughout Beirut. The health ministry shared “At least 20 people were killed and more than 450 wounded in the second wave.” It is known that these attacks have been directed at the militant group Hezbollah, However, both attacks have heavily impacted the average civilians.
These explosions are aimed at the militant group Hezbollah, which has been a significant player in the region's conflicts. However, the consequences of these attacks have been devastating for ordinary citizens. Emergency services rushed to the scene, treating the wounded and trying to bring order to the chaos. Hospitals quickly filled with patients needing urgent care, and medical staff worked tirelessly to assist everyone. Families are now mourning their lost loved ones, while many others face long recoveries from their injuries.
The attacks have raised fears among residents about their safety and the ongoing violence in the city. Many are calling for a stronger response from the government to protect civilians and ensure that such tragic events do not happen again.
I find it troubling that experts think the pager explosions were part of a well-planned operation. Someone may have sneaked into the supply chain and added explosives to the devices before they reached Lebanon. This shows a lot of careful planning and has the country worried about how easily things like this can happen. It is scary to think about the lengths some people will go to in events like these.
Comments