According to the latest reports, at least 30 people were killed and 4000 injured, many seriously, when portable pagers used by Hezbollah members and many Lebanese civilians exploded simultaneously in Lebanon on September 17.

Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati and government ministers were informed about the new bloody crime of the Israeli military during a cabinet meeting. Mikati ordered Health Minister Firass Abiad to leave the meeting and mobilise medical services. Abiad later released a statement saying that 12 people were killed and 2,800 others were injured, including 200 in critical condition. However, as of 19 September, the death toll was already more than 30 and the injured more than 4,000. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among the injured when his pager exploded, Mehr news agency reported.

The communication devices exploded while in the hands or pockets of their owners, causing many to writhe on the ground in agony. Surveillance cameras in shops and on the streets showed Lebanese injured while walking, standing or sitting. A camera in a supermarket captured the moment when a man approached the cashier and a device exploded. There have been calls for blood donations and the Ministry of Health has ordered hospitals to ensure that emergency departments are ready.

Hospitals in the south were filled to capacity and the wounded were transported to Sidon (Saida) and Beirut. Many of those who sought help arrived in civilian cars or motorcycles. In an initial statement, the Lebanese Internal Security Forces called on the Lebanese to keep the roads clear so that the wounded could be taken to hospital.

Pagers in the service of Hezbollah

Hezbollah turned to old wireless devices, or pagers, equipped with lithium batteries after Israel attacked and killed a number of its leaders and members by hacking mobile phones and cameras connected to the Internet.

A pager is a small, easy-to-carry automatic........

© New Eastern Outlook