At least nine people, including members of the militant group Hezbollah, have died following reports of simultaneous pager explosions across Lebanon and parts of Syria, according to government and Hezbollah officials. The incidents, which occurred Tuesday afternoon, are currently under investigation.
Among the fatalities was an 8-year-old girl, officials said. The son of a Hezbollah member of Lebanon’s parliament was also reportedly killed, while sons of two other senior officials were wounded, according to a Hezbollah official speaking on condition of anonymity.
Hezbollah legislator Ali Ammar, whose son Mahdi was among those killed, told The Associated Press: “This is a new Israeli aggression against Lebanon. The resistance will retaliate in a suitable way at the suitable time.”
Officials report that hundreds of handheld pagers allegedly exploded near simultaneously. A Hezbollah official, speaking anonymously, claimed the devices first heated up before exploding in users’ pockets or hands. The official alleged the explosions resulted from an Israeli “security operation” but provided no evidence for this claim.
The pagers reportedly use lithium-ion batteries. When overheated, such batteries can potentially smoke, melt, or catch fire. However, the exact cause of the reported explosions remains unconfirmed.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned members against carrying cellphones, citing concerns about potential tracking for targeted strikes. As a result, the organization reportedly uses pagers for communication.
An anonymous Hezbollah official told the AP that the exploded devices were from a new brand the group had not used before, but did not identify the brand name or supplier.
