Lebanon pager explosions spark debate about their origins, use

By Irmak Akcan

Speculation has grown following deadly explosions of pagers used by members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group on how the devices were modified as well as their origins.

The Lebanese government has accused Israel of being behind the incident, which left nine dead, including a child, and around 2,800 injured, with 200 in critical condition, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

In the aftermath of the attacks, questions have arisen on how the devices exploded. On social media, three models reportedly used by Hezbollah members have attracted significant attention.

One of the devices is linked to Motorola, whose headquarters is based in the US, which has been producing phones and communication devices since the early 1900s. Despite rumors, there have been no confirmed images circulating of Motorola-branded beepers that exploded or sustained damage in the attack.

Social media posts also referenced devices from Motorola’s Teletrim line, though these were shown to be undamaged units.

Another device which gained attention is the Gold Apollo Rugged Pager AR924, produced by Taiwan-based Apollo Gold and sold by Hong Kong’s Apollo Systems HK.

Images shared online showed damaged Apollo-branded devices with visible model information. Apollo Systems HK, through its official website, states that it provides communication systems and beepers to various industries globally, including digital health and care facilities.

The company emphasizes its role in offering reliable communication and network-based solutions worldwide.

Notably, the companies in question had discontinued sales of these models long ago due to the rise of mobile phones and the internet, but second-hand sales of these devices appear to continue.

- Explosions and casualties

The coordinated explosions of pager devices occurred across multiple locations in Lebanon, with Hezbollah members being the primary targets. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the blasts resulted in nine fatalities and nearly 2,800 injuries.

Israel has not yet issued a statement on the incident, though tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have intensified since Oct. 8, 2023, amid ongoing clashes.