In a stunning development, thousands of Hezbollah operatives were injured today when their communication devices exploded simultaneously across Lebanon.
Among the injured is reportedly the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani.
The incident, which also appears to have extended to Damascus, Syria, where a vehicle explosion injured four, has sent shockwaves through the region.
According to Lebanese security sources, the explosions were caused by a breach in Hezbollah's internal communication networks. The Wall Street Journal reported that the affected devices were a recent model, distributed only in the last few days. A Hezbollah source stated that some operatives felt their devices heating up and discarded them before they exploded. Reports indicate that the devices received a message prior to detonation.
The terrorist organization and Lebanon's Ministry of Health have urgently called for operatives to abandon their communication devices. A Hezbollah official told Reuters that this incident represents the largest security breach to date for the organization.
Footage has emerged showing Hezbollah members' communication devices exploding in various public locations, including supermarkets and vegetable stores. NBN, a channel associated with the Amal movement, claimed that the IDF were responsible for the explosion in Hezbollah's pager system.
In a now-deleted tweet, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at Israel's involvement, responding to a journalist's speculation about Netanyahu's activities with the cryptic message, "Didn't age well."
The Israeli National Security Council has instructed ministers not to give interviews about the events, and Netanyahu's Likud party has imposed a media blackout on its members.
This incident comes in the wake of Hezbollah's recent efforts to enhance its information security. About two months ago, the organization banned its members from using mobile phones on the battlefield, switching to more primitive communication methods such as paper messages and verbal relay to counter Israel's electronic surveillance technology.
Hezbollah had also been using a private landline network, employing frequently changing code names for weapons and meeting locations to evade potential eavesdropping.
"We are facing a campaign where information and technology are essential components," said Qassem Qassir, a Lebanese analyst close to Hezbollah. "But when faced with technological advancements, you have to return to old methods like landlines and interpersonal communication - anything that allows you to bypass the technology."
The Lebanese Health Ministry is calling doctors and nurses to head to hospitals immediately to help with this mass casualty event.
According to a report from Al-Hadath news network, two sons of Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking Hezbollah official, have been injured in the recent communication device explosions. One of the sons is reportedly in critical condition. The report also states that the son of Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese Parliament, was among those injured in the incident.
Kan News and Mannie Fabian contributed to this article.