'Israel' blows up transceivers in Lebanon day post pager terror: Axios
3 Min Read
Sources confirm to Axios that the Israeli attacks come as a means of pressure to alter Hezbollah's strategy on the northern front.
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Lebanese soldiers gather outside a damaged mobile shop after a walkie-talkie exploded inside, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP)
"Israel" detonated two-way radio receivers widely used in Lebanon in a second wave of its electronic terrorist attack after blowing up telecommunication pagers on Tuesday, Axios reported, citing two informed sources.
On Wednesday afternoon, a series of explosions were reported across Beirut, South Lebanon and Bekaa. Video footage posted on social media showed a telecommunication device, more commonly known as a walkie-talkie, exploding during the funeral procession of a Hezbollah member, killed in yesterday's attack.
More footage showed cars, motorbikes, and homes on fire amid the impact of the explosions.
A new wage of Israeli explosions across Lebanon. Electronic devices are exploding in shops, cars, homes and even in funerals. Yesterday’s attack killed civilians including 3 children. This is a deliberate attack on Lebanese civilians. This is mass murder. pic.twitter.com/icqLXFUNMM
— Hadi (@HadiNasrallah) September 18, 2024
So far, nine citizens have been killed, with injuries rising to over 300, the Lebanese Health Ministry announced.
According to Axios' sources, the terrorist attacks, perpetrated by "Israel", were meant to "increase paranoia and fear in Hezbollah's ranks" and to pressure the Resistance into changing its strategy on the northern front.
"The goal was to convince Hezbollah that it is in its interest to disconnect itself from Hamas and cut a separate deal for ending the fighting with Israel regardless of a ceasefire in Gaza," the source stated.
They further added that the decision to initiate the second wave of attacks right after the first one followed Hezbollah's investigation into the pager blasts, which could have uncovered the security breach in their walkie-talkies.
'Israel' planted explosives in pagers sold to Hezbollah: NYT
Earlier today, a security source told Reuters that the walkie-talkies were purchased five months ago, which coincides with the date of pager purchases.
The New York Times, citing US and other officials briefed on the attack, reported that "Israel" planted explosive material in a recent batch of Taiwanese-brand pagers imported to Lebanon, carrying out an operation against Hezbollah.
Pagers ordered by Hezbollah from Gold Apollo were tampered with before arriving in the county, some officials stated. Most pagers were the AR924 models, but the shipment also included three other models from the company, according to NYT.
The explosive material, weighing less than 60 grams, was implanted next to the battery in each device, two officials said. An embedded switch was also planted in the pagers, allowing for remote detonation of the explosives.
Three officials said that the devices were programmed to beep for several before exploding.
It is unclear when the devices were ordered or arrived in Lebanon. However, several officials said over 3,000 pagers were ordered from the Taiwanese company and distributed to Resistance members throughout the country.
Read more: Explosions erupt in Lebanon, radio receivers targeted
