What will explode next?

Your cell phone, baby monitors, your computer, your Amazon Ring video doorbell....

People are asking ‘what will explode next?’ after walkie-talkie and pager blasts

Sarah HooperPublished Sep 19, 2024, 8:26am

Yesterday, Lebanon was rocked by a second day of walkie-talkie and pager explosions, thought to be orchestrated by Israeli intelligence services.

The attacks, intended to target members of Hezbollah, have left at least 20 people dead – two of them children – and hundreds injured.

Those on the ground injured in the chaos have been left asking how much further Israel will go. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, is giving a speech later today in the wake of the explosions.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared yesterday that the attacks are a ‘new phase’ in war.

He said: ‘We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance.’ He added that the ‘results are very impressive’.

Mariam Karouny, a journalist based in Lebanon, told Metro the explosions yesterday were a ‘surprise’ to everyone – and said fear on the ground is spreading as civilians not involved with Hezbollah have been left injured as well.

Small amounts of explosives were laced in the walkie talkies (Picture: Mail Online/Leo Delauncey)

This is the hand-held radio model said to be used in Hezbollah device explosions

0:12

Moment 'Hezbollah pager' explodes in a Beirut supermarket

Video shows actor James Nesbitt's "shock" at having his voice cloned by AIMs Karouny explained: ‘People are shocked and angry at Israel. Many have been saying ‘This is what Israel really is’, and ‘it shows they want to kill everyone’.

‘People feel that Israel won’t spare anyone.’

Dr Luca Trenta, Associate Professor at Swansea University, told RUSI: ‘The mass explosion of pagers belonging to Hezbollah fighters and supporters across Lebanon – widely attributed to Israel – constitutes a major security breach for the militant group.

‘The number of pagers distributed is also impressive, as is the ability to modify them to explode simultaneously. Such prowess also entails an ability to interfere effectively in a supply and distribution chain.

‘Israel has increasingly shown a tendency to escalate the fighting, bringing the region to the precipice of a wider war.’