Hezbollah handed out pagers hours before blasts - media Even after checks

Hezbollah distributed new Gold Apollo-branded pagers shortly before a series of devastating explosions this week, suggesting the group believed they were secure despite ongoing security checks.

Reports indicate that a new pager detonated while still in its packaging, and another exploded shortly after being issued to a senior member, injuring a subordinate, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

On September 19, these pagers exploded in Hezbollah strongholds across southern Lebanon, Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in 37 deaths, including at least two children, and over 3,000 injuries. The following day, walkie-talkies also detonated, causing an additional 25 fatalities. Both incidents are suspected to be orchestrated by Israel, with claims that Israeli military intelligence was involved in the planning.

The walkie-talkies contained PETN, a highly explosive compound, which had gone undetected by Hezbollah for months. Sources indicate that the explosives were difficult to detect with standard devices. Since 2022, Hezbollah had been inspecting the pagers, ensuring they wouldn’t trigger airport alarms during transport.

Despite these checks, the coordinated attacks have damaged Hezbollah's reputation as a leading force within Iran's 'Axis of Resistance.' Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah called the incidents "unprecedented" for the group. Following the explosions, Hezbollah intensified its reviews of its communications equipment and began probing the supply chains of the pagers.

Hezbollah suspects that Israel detonated the walkie-talkies to preempt the group’s discovery of further compromised devices. The investigation into how the explosives were integrated into the pagers is ongoing. A security source acknowledged that while the group had previously foiled Israeli attempts to compromise its equipment, it was caught off guard this time, stating, “They tricked us; hats off to the enemy.”