In a puzzling turn of events, members of Hezbollah were caught off guard this week as thousands of brand-new pagers distributed by the group unexpectedly exploded. The devices, including a Gold Apollo pager that detonated in its box the next day and another that injured a subordinate, were loaded with highly explosive PETN and rigged to overheat. The explosions, accompanied by a mass blast of walkie-talkies, resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people and injuries to over 3,200 others during attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Both Hezbollah and Lebanese officials swiftly pointed fingers at Israel, accusing the country of tampering with a shipment of the communication devices several months prior. The explosive materials hidden in the pagers and walkie-talkies were reportedly triggered by a fake message impersonating Hezbollah's leadership. The attacks, which impacted civilians and escalated tensions between the two adversaries, led Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to denounce Israel's actions as a "violation of all laws and red lines," further fueling the conflict.

The explosions mark a drastic escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Nasrallah condemned the attacks as he expressed outrage over what he referred to as a "massacre," calling the incident a direct challenge to the group. Amidst the heightened hostilities, Hezbollah initiated attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas, resulting in continuous missile strikes and tens of thousands fleeing their homes in both northern Israel and southern Lebanon as fears of a multi-front war loomed.