Al Jazeera: pagers exploded in Lebanon contained up to 20 grams of explosives
The pagers that exploded in Lebanon contained explosives weighing no more than 20 grams, Al Jazeera TV channel reported citing a source in the Lebanese security services.
“The exploded communication devices were booby-trapped in advance,” the material said.
According to the TV channel, the pagers were brought into Lebanon five months ago. The mass of explosives in each device did not exceed 20 grams. Lebanese authorities have not yet figured out the way the charges were detonated, the source added.
The pagers detonated in different parts of Lebanon on Tuesday. The head of the Lebanese Health Ministry Firas Abyad said that more than 4,000 people were injured in the incident and 11 were killed.
According to several media outlets, pagers are used by members of the Hezbollah movement as a closed communication system least susceptible to hacking and eavesdropping. It is not yet known what caused the simultaneous detonation of dozens of devices. “Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have held Israel responsible for the incident.
Axios reported, citing sources, that the operation to detonate the pagers in Lebanon was approved during meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet and security chiefs.