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The Explosive Return of Pagers: Why Lebanon's Tech Just Went Ka-Boom!

Hezbollah -- Lebanon -- Pagers -- pager explosion Budapest - cyber warfare - exploding pagers - explosives technology - geopolitics - Gold Apollo - Hezbollah - Israel - Middle East conflict - Taiwan - Lebanon - Pagers - pager explosion

Pagers are back, but not in the way you'd expect! Dive into the bizarre story of deadly explosions in Lebanon and how tech from the past became a weapon of war!

In a shocking turn of events, Lebanon was rocked by a series of deadly explosions caused by electronic pagers owned by members of Hezbollah, resulting in at least nine lives lost and nearly 3,000 people injured. This unforeseen attack raises alarm bells about escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Initially deemed relics of the past, these obsolete communication devices proved to be fatal after multiple pagers detonated simultaneously, leaving the region in chaos. The bizarre incident underscores how even outdated technology can become a vicious weapon amidst political strife.

Interestingly, the pagers involved in the blasts were reportedly manufactured in Europe, stirring up a hornet's nest of controversy around the involvement of the Taiwanese tech company Gold Apollo. In a twist, Gold Apollo denied any connection to the explosive devices, claiming their products were only meant for basic communication, not causing havoc. This has sparked a fierce debate on how technological tools can be weaponized, and the growing concern for supply chain security in times of rising geopolitical tensions. Was it a case of poor quality control, celestial bad luck, or did someone have a grudge? That's a mystery for another day.

The incident brings to light an extensive history of how communication devices have been manipulated in warfare. From the World War II cryptographic machines to the BlackBerry mobile phones famously used by political leaders, technology often walks hand in hand with conflict. The pagers in Lebanon serve as a reminder that even the simplest devices can morph into actors in the theatre of war when wielded by the wrong hands.

As the dust settles and investigations unfold, experts continue to warn of the possible ramifications of this incident on regional stability. Back home in South Africa, one can’t help but chuckle at our own past with riveting pager stories – remember the good old days of fancy ringtones and chasing friends down at the mall because their pagers buzzed? These recent events serve as a stark juxtaposition between our nostalgia for simpler times and the complicated world of modern warfare.

In a fun fact turn, did you know that the first-ever pager was invented way back in the 1920s and was called a "pocket bell"? Furthermore, before smartphones took over, pagers were the hot ticket for immediate communication in professional settings throughout the 80s and 90s. It’s wild to think how something that once symbolized connectivity has transformed into an unforeseen agent of destruction!

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Image courtesy of "WNIJ and WNIU"

Pager blasts in Lebanon kill 8 and wound 2750, authorities say (WNIJ and WNIU)

The attack raises fears of an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, and comes following warnings from Israeli officials of possible military action ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Pagers in deadly attack on Hezbollah 'made in Europe', as Middle ... (The Guardian)

Taiwanese company Gold Apollo says a company in Europe made the pagers used in extraordinary attack in Lebanon that Hezbollah blames on Israel.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Taiwan dragged into Middle East politics after deadly pager blasts (Aljazeera.com)

Taiwanese tech firm Gold Apollo denies manufacturing exploding pagers that used its brand.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

What we know about the deadly pager blasts in Lebanon (Reuters)

At least nine people were killed and nearly 3000 wounded when pagers used by Hezbollah members - including fighters and medics - detonated simultaneously ...

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Hezbollah pagers explode across Lebanon, causing thousands of ... (NPR)

Electronic pagers belonging to members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least nine people ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Exploding pagers join long history of killer communications devices (Financial Times)

Israel, blamed by Hizbollah for Tuesday's attack, has long used telephones and their successors to track and kill enemies.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Hezbollah blames Israel after deadly pager explosions in Lebanon (BBC News)

Nine people have been killed and 2800 wounded by the blasts, the Lebanese health ministry says.

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Image courtesy of "India Today"

Supply chain attack turned humble pagers into killer devices in ... (India Today)

Lebanon pager explosions: What led to the pagers in Lebanon, which became obsolete in the early 2000s, to explode? Experts have called it a prime example of ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

'Never been anything like this': John Miller on pager explosions ... (CNN)

At least nine people were killed and 2800 wounded in an attack that targeted pagers held by members of Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah across ...

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Image courtesy of "Middle East Forum"

The Great Pager Detonation: The End of Phones and Computers on ... (Middle East Forum)

After all, Iran supplied the pagers to Hezbollah just a few months ago. The ramifications of the attack, however warranted it was, go far beyond the Middle East ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Hezbollah exploding pager trail runs from Taiwan to Budapest (Reuters)

BEIRUT, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Israel's Mossad spy agency planted explosives inside 5,000 pagers imported by Lebanese group Hezbollah months before Tuesday's ...

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

Israel planted 5000 pager explosives months before deadly blasts ... (FRANCE 24)

Israel's spy service injected explosive materials activated by coded messages into thousands of pagers during production, months before they were imported ...

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Image courtesy of "WNIJ and WNIU"

Hezbollah accuses Israel as thousands hurt in unusual pager blasts (WNIJ and WNIU)

The attack raises fears of an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, and comes following warnings from Israeli officials of possible military action ...

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

Hungarian company built Hezbollah's exploding pagers, Taiwanese ... (POLITICO.eu)

Thousands were wounded in a simultaneous explosive strike across Lebanon on Tuesday.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Hezbollah pagers: How did they explode and who is responsible? (BBC News)

What we know about the Hezbollah pager explosions ... Thousands of people have been injured in Lebanon, after pagers used by the armed group Hezbollah to ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Gold Apollo: Taiwan pager maker stunned by link to Lebanon attacks (BBC News)

The race to find the manufacturer of pagers that exploded in Lebanon leads to a Taiwanese company.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Tracking the exploding pagers used in apparent Israeli attack on ... (NPR)

Gold Apollo denied all involvement with the explosive pagers, telling NPR outside its offices in Taiwan that it was a Budapest-based company called BAC ...

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Image courtesy of "CNNMoney"

What we know about the Taiwanese firm caught up in Lebanon's ... (CNNMoney)

The deadly simultaneous explosions triggered by hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon have thrust a little-known Taiwanese electronics ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Hear what pager attack victim told CNN off-camera | CNN (CNN)

At least 12 people were killed, and roughly 2800 wounded, as pagers belonging to Hezbollah exploded almost simultaneously across Lebanon on September 17.

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

Commission 'looking into' whether it ever employed exploding-pager ... (POLITICO.eu)

EU spokesperson does not rule out CEO had been employed by the Commission via “external providers.”

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Israel war on Gaza live: Multiple explosions in Lebanon after pager ... (Aljazeera.com)

At least three people reported killed in new wave of explosions across Lebanon a day after simultaneous blasts.

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

New wave of blasts hits Lebanon a day after pager attack (The Associated Press)

Multiple explosions occurred at the site of a funeral for three Hezbollah members and a child killed by exploding pagers the day before, according to ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Hezbollah pagers: what do we know about how the attack happened? (The Guardian)

Israel's intelligence services were responsible, the source said. “The Mossad injected a board inside of the device that has explosive material that receives a ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

The Lebanon pager attack: Israel's terror playbook strikes again (Aljazeera.com)

Indiscriminate violence is a favourite Israeli tactic, whether deployed in Gaza, Lebanon or elsewhere.

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

How does a pager explode? The steps needed to remotely detonate ... (Sky News)

How does a decades-old piece of technology suddenly explode? Sky News talks to four experts about how a message to a pager or hand-held radio could trigger ...

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Image courtesy of "DFA"

Hezbollah exploding pager trail runs from Taiwan to Hungary - DFA (DFA)

A Taiwanese pager maker denied on Wednesday that it had produced devices that wounded thousands of Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon when they exploded, ...

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Image courtesy of "PBS NewsHour"

What we know as death toll from pager explosion attack targeting ... (PBS NewsHour)

In what appeared to be a sophisticated, remote attack, pagers used by hundreds of members of Hezbollah exploded almost simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria.

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

What Visual Evidence Shows About Israel's Pager Attacks (The New York Times)

When pagers carried by thousands of Hezbollah operatives exploded on Tuesday, it sowed panic and overwhelmed hospitals across Lebanon.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Escalation fears spike as Hezbollah vows retaliation for pager attack (Aljazeera.com)

World and regional leaders warn the Middle East is on the brink of all-out war.

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Exploding pagers: How Israel is suspected of using technology ... (Sky News)

A wave of deadly explosions across Lebanon and parts of Syria has targeted Hezbollah officials whose handheld pagers have blown up. One bomb expert suggests ...

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Image courtesy of "Vox"

The biggest unanswered questions about the Hezbollah pager attack (Vox)

Thousands of radios and pagers were turned into bombs. What does that mean for the future of war?

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Lebanon doctors tell of horror after pager blasts (eNCA)

Doctors in Lebanon spoke Wednesday of horrific eye injuries and finger amputations, a day after Hezbollah paging devices exploded across the country, ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

'Sophisticated evil': Beirut medics and civilians horrified by pager ... (The Guardian)

People describe panic when explosions started and 'apocalyptic' scenes inside hospitals overwhelmed by injured patients.

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Image courtesy of "JNS.org"

Hezbollah pager bomb mystery deepens - JNS.org (JNS.org)

In a twist that deepens the mystery surrounding the pager explosions in Lebanon on Tuesday that killed more than 10 Hezbollah terrorists and injured ...

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Image courtesy of "Daily Maverick"

UN to meet over Lebanon pager explosions; Netanyahu vows to ... (Daily Maverick)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Wednesday to return tens of thousands of residents evacuated from northern border areas to their homes, amid ...

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