Remote attack causes hundreds of Hezbollah beepers to explode

At least eight people have died and more than 2,750 have been injured after their handheld pagers exploded simultaneously in Lebanon, according to news reports. The pagers were linked to people and employees within Hezbollah.

It is reported that in addition to members of the Hezbollah group, the Iranian ambassador, Mojtaba Amani, and dozens of others were also hit. Officials accused Israel of what appears to be an advanced form of remote attack.

It is unclear whether Amani’s injuries were serious. Hezbollah is a designated terrorist group that receives material and financial support from the Iranian government.

Hezbollah said it was conducting a “security and scientific investigation to determine the causes that led to these simultaneous explosions,” according to a news source. In February, Hezbollah’s leader urged members to stop using mobile phones, calling them “lethal tools.”

What is a pager?

A pager, also known as a beeper, is a small wireless telecommunications device that you can wear or carry in your pocket that beeps or vibrates when someone is trying to reach you. It displays alphanumeric messages, such as phone numbers or voicemail messages. (The recipient of the message can then call the sent number.) Pagers can usually only receive information, not transmit it, making their location difficult to track.

Hezbollah officials said new pagers carried by Hezbollah members contained lithium batteries that apparently exploded.

If lithium batteries overheat, a chain reaction can occur that causes them to burn or explode.

What is a remote attack?

A remote attack is a malicious action that targets a single person or a network.

This attack is often associated with computer hackers and is an advanced attack performed remotely through a vulnerability in a computer or network’s security software to gain access to the device or system and cause damage.