Hezbollah blames Israel for exploding pager attack

An attack on Hezbollah members using exploding pagers killed at least 12 people and wounded about 3,000 on Tuesday. Hundreds of pagers used by members of the Lebanon-based militant group exploded simultaneously, injuring medics, Hezbollah fighters, and others. Semi-official Iranian media outlet Mehr News reported that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was injured in Beirut.

How was the attack carried out? The pagers were made by a company based in Hungary, according to a statement released by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese firm that authorized the use of its brand on the pagers. Hezbollah leaders have encouraged the group’s members not to use smartphones because they pose security risks. A source familiar with Hezbollah told the Associated Press that the pagers that exploded had been in use for at least six months, indicating that the explosions were triggered remotely.

Who is responsible for the attack? Hezbollah blamed Israel and said it would continue its regular attacks on Israel along with additional retribution for the Tuesday explosions. Thousands of people have been evacuated from northern Israel as Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists have launched frequent strikes from neighboring Lebanon. Cross-border fighting increased after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel last October. The Israeli military has not commented on the attack.

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s explainer on the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.