On Sept. 27, the ground shuddered in Beirut’s southern suburb and surrounding areas after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted a residential complex in Haret Hreik.

The incident was described as the most aggressive attack on the suburb since the beginning of the ongoing war. At least four buildings, several stories high, were razed to the ground, and a huge crater was created in the area as a result of the attack. 

Israeli military correspondent Itay Blumental reported the use of over 80 one-ton US-made MK-84 bombs during the attack.

Israel’s Target was Hezbollah Leadership

Rumors began spreading that the target was what the Israeli military described as the main Hezbollah headquarters. Shortly after, Israel claimed the target of the attack was the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. 

The military also claimed that several leadership figures from Hezbollah were in the area too. 

These rumors were rejected by many, especially the Hezbollah audience. Several sources assured that Sayyed Nasrallah was alive and well. 

The next day, at 2:30 p.m. local time, Hezbollah released a statement officially announcing the passing of its Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“His eminence the Sayyed, Master of the Resistance, the righteous servant [of God], has journeyed to the Embrace and Mercy of his Lord, a grand, leading, heroic, valiant, courageous, wise, insightful, faithful martyr, joining the undying, radiant caravan of the martyrs of Karbala, [who rose] on the Divine path, following the steps of the prophets, Imams, and martyrs,” the statement read.

Of the leaders officially mourned by Hezbollah, and who were also killed in the Israeli attack on Haret Hreik, was “the great martyred Jihadi leader Haj Ali Karaki (Abu-l-Fadhl).”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Deputy Commander Abbas Nilforoushan was also killed in the attack.

This came after two bloody weeks in Lebanon, starting with the Israeli attacks against Lebanon with explosive pagers and electronic devices on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18.

The Advantage of Using Pagers

Pagers, or beepers, are wireless devices that can receive signals or messages. They have been widely used in the past century, but their popularity declined as mobile phones became more popular. 

Pagers continue to be used by nurses, doctors, and medical workers to summon them when on call, and in trucks waiting in queue. Beepers have many uses within civilian spheres; they are even used in restaurants to inform customers that their order is ready.

Modern communication devices come with a cost: breaching, hacking into, or jamming their signals pose significant risks. Pagers, however, have an advantage over such devices; they depend on internal transmitters and are pre-programmed to receive messages over specific frequencies. 

Due to this advantage, Hezbollah adopted pagers as a communication means between its members – and more. Under Hezbollah are many civil institutions, including hospitals, schools, media outlets, and rescue teams that also use pagers — as opposed to other easily breachable devices — to maintain contact with the leadership. 

The Pager Terrorist Attack

On the afternoon of Sept. 17, a series of explosions were heard across South Lebanon, the Beqaa, Beirut, and its southern suburb in homes, shops, streets, cars, and other public areas. 

People were found laying on the ground with severe injuries to their waists, hands, and faces. Ambulances rushed across all districts, and the wounded were rushed to hospitals. 

Twelve people were killed and 2,323 others were wounded in the attack, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad during a press conference. Most of the injuries sustained were to the eyes and the hands. Dozens lost vision in one or both eyes and had parts or the entirety of their hands amputated.

Just 24 hours later, another wave of explosions shook the same regions, some during the funeral processions of the casualties from the day before. This time, the explosions and fires were larger; the devices that exploded were walkie-talkies. 

Over 20 were killed during this attack alone and another 608 were wounded. The final toll of both attacks amounted to 37 killed and 2,931 wounded, including women and children.

Theories on the Pager Attacks

Several analyses emerged to explain what had happened. After two days of witnessing devices explode, people feared that their battery-powered devices were next, especially after one theory hypothesized that the attack was conducted by overheated lithium batteries.

Experts refuted this claim, however, by explaining that many more small fires and misfires would have been witnessed had that been the case. 

Still, the repercussions of the attacks included the intensification of the lack of trust in communication devices, as many around the world remain in fear of being targeted next.

Another theory hypothesized that the pagers had been booby-trapped with explosives during the manufacturing process, where a small amount of explosives were placed inside the devices and later detonated remotely. 

Several experts adopted this theory, including Hezbollah itself. In a statement, the group announced its attack targeting the Mossad headquarters in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with a “Qader 1” ballistic missile, stating that the target was “responsible for the assassination of leaders and the bombing of pagers and wireless devices.”

In a recent CNN report, Lebanese security officials said the attack was carried out by concealing explosives in the device batteries. According to these officials, the explosives were undetectable due to the use of advanced technology. 

The devices were detonated by an electronic message that was sent to them. Pagers that were switched off at the time of the attack did not explode.

The New York Times reported that Israel had set up shell companies to disguise the identities of those who manufactured the pagers.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Responds

The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, delivered a speech on Sept. 19, commenting on the pager incidents. He explained that they were massive terrorist attacks, with anything ranging from a war crime to a declaration of war. 

He added that the enemy had the intention of murdering at least 5,000 people who were carrying the devices in a single minute, saying that it was a divine blessing that Israel failed in achieving such a goal.

Sayyed Nasrallah assured that the attack would not break Hezbollah’s spirits, resolve, or determination — despite it having been a significant blow. He also explained that Israel was desperate to force Hezbollah to close the Southern Lebanese support front of Gaza by any means. 

Hezbollah was determined, however, to continue its support for Gaza. He promised Netanyahu that the settlers of the North will not return, and that this front will not stop until the genocidal war on Gaza ends. 

Sayyed Nasrallah also vowed to respond to the attacks, emphasizing that the reckoning will be seen when it occurs, but not heard of beforehand.

Hezbollah has already carried out more than one operation within the framework of its retaliation to the “Tuesday and Wednesday massacres,” as Sayyed Nasrallah called them.

Israel Continues Airstrikes Against Lebanon

On Sept. 20, the Israeli Air Force bombed a residential building in Beirut’s southern suburb, assassinating Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Mohammad Akil (Haj Abdel-Qader). The three attacks killed a total of 70 people.

On Sept. 24, the Israeli Air Force began another massive operation against South Lebanon and the Beqaa, murdering over 500 civilians in one day. The events continue to escalate, as the Israeli army promised a ground invasion in South Lebanon. 

Hezbollah announced its operations are now within the framework of supporting Gaza, and in defense of Lebanon and its people.