BEIRUT: Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon was reportedly injured in a series of pager explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday, which have been attributed to a major Israeli cyber-attack targeting Hezbollah’s communication devices.
“Unconfirmed reports say that the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon was injured during a massive Israeli cyber-attack in Lebanon and Syria.” Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported.
The explosions, which injured more than 1,000 people, including medics and Hezbollah members, occurred in Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon.
According to Mehr News Agency, the ambassador sustained light injuries and was transferred to a hospital in Beirut. The agency also reported that two other members of the Iranian embassy in Beirut were injured in the incident. The injuries come amid a larger coordinated cyber-attack that has reportedly impacted multiple areas in Lebanon and Syria.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry has called for all hospitals to remain on high alert to manage the influx of emergency patients. The ministry has advised people to stay away from pagers and urged healthcare workers to avoid using wireless devices. Additionally, there has been a call for blood donations in response to the crisis.
The explosions involved the pagers carried by Hezbollah members, which detonated in multiple locations, causing widespread injuries. The Hezbollah official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as a deliberate security operation targeting the devices. The official claimed that Israel was behind the attacks, asserting that the pagers, which were equipped with lithium batteries, had exploded due to either remote detonation or rigged explosives.
Lithium batteries, known for their high energy density, can pose significant risks if they overheat. They are capable of emitting intense heat, melting, or catching fire, with temperatures reaching up to 1,100°F (590°C) in extreme cases.
Hezbollah-affiliated sources have suggested that Israel may have remotely detonated the pagers by causing the lithium batteries to explode or by rigging the batteries with small amounts of explosives. These devices are typically carried on the waist or kept in pockets, making them vulnerable to such attacks.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned his fighters against using smartphones. Nasrallah emphasized Israel’s advanced technology, which he claimed could compromise communications through smartphone infiltration.
