Electronic Devices Deemed Unsafe Following Lebanon Attacks
As crowds gathered to mourn the victims of Tuesday’s pager-bomb attacks, a new explosion unleashed chaos in Dahiyeh, Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut. A video captured the moment, showing a man lying on the ground and panicked people fleeing in terror. This occurred just before funerals were set to begin for an 11-year-old boy and three Hezbollah members killed the previous day.
The sound of the blast reverberated through the surrounding streets, halting the chants of those gathered, leaving many in disbelief. Reports soon spread that a second wave of explosions, this time targeting walkie-talkies, was underway, leading to widespread fear that no electronic device could be trusted. Hezbollah supporters repeatedly stopped our team, insisting that we not use phones or cameras.
Lebanese officials reported at least 20 deaths and 450 injuries nationwide, with fires engulfing homes, shops, and vehicles. These latest attacks are seen as a major blow to Hezbollah, raising fears that its entire communication network may have been compromised by Israel.
Amid the shock and devastation, the nation is left wondering what comes next. Tuesday’s attack, which saw thousands of pagers explode after users received a message believed to be from Hezbollah, left 12 dead, including two children, and around 2,800 injured. Dr. Elias Warrak described it as “the worst day of [his] life as a physician,” recounting how many victims lost eyes, fingers, or even hands, with some suffering brain damage.
Initial reports suggest the pagers may have been rigged with explosives and remotely detonated. Hezbollah had distributed the devices out of concern that smartphones were being used by Israeli intelligence to track its members. The exact mechanism behind Wednesday’s attacks remains unclear.
Hezbollah has since vowed retaliation, blaming Israel, although Israel has not commented. The fear of escalation looms large as violence between the two sides continues to displace tens of thousands of people. Hezbollah’s attacks, which began nearly a year ago, are framed as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and the group insists they will not cease without a ceasefire—an increasingly distant hope.
At the funeral in Dahiyeh, mourners expressed defiance. One young man stated, “The pain is huge, both physically and emotionally, but we are used to this, and our resistance will continue.” A 45-year-old woman echoed the sentiment: “This will make us stronger. Whoever has lost an eye will fight with the other, and we will all stand together.”
Hours after the explosions, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant declared that the conflict had entered “a new phase,” as Israel shifted military forces northward. While Hezbollah has signaled reluctance for a full-scale war amid Lebanon’s deep economic crisis, calls for a strong response are growing. A clearer picture of Hezbollah’s next move may emerge with a speech from its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, expected on Thursday.
