French President Emmanuel Macron has urged restraint in the Middle East following a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon involving pager devices. In an effort to de-escalate tensions, Macron held separate conversations with Lebanese political and military leaders, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The explosions, which targeted Hezbollah members in both Lebanon and Syria, have resulted in at least 20 deaths, including children, and injured nearly 3,000 people, with hundreds in critical condition. Among the injured is Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani.
The blasts have incited anger in Beirut, with Hezbollah accusing Israel of planting explosives in the pagers—a claim that Israel has not officially addressed. The group, backed by Iran, has vowed retaliation, heightening fears of a wider conflict. Daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel have compounded these tensions.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the casualty figures, while reports indicate that Hezbollah fighters in Syria were also affected, with some requiring treatment in Damascus.
International scrutiny has emerged regarding the pager devices, with both Hungary and Taiwan distancing themselves from their production. Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo, which licensed its pager brand to Budapest-based BAC Consulting, emphasized that it had no involvement in the design or manufacture of the devices. Hungarian officials, including government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs, rejected allegations that the pagers were made in Hungary, asserting that BAC Consulting is merely an intermediary without production facilities in the country.
Kovacs stated, “The devices have never been in Hungary and pose no national security risk,” and noted that Hungarian authorities are collaborating with international agencies to investigate the matter further.
BAC Consulting, registered in May 2022, is under scrutiny, with CEO Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono denying any role in producing the explosive pagers. She clarified that her company was solely responsible for intermediary services related to the pagers’ trademark.
The use of pagers by Hezbollah reflects the group’s reliance on older, less traceable technology to evade Israeli surveillance. While mobile phones are easily tracked, pagers provide a degree of operational security in areas with poor mobile coverage. However, this incident illustrates that even these devices can be compromised.
Speculation surrounds whether the explosions were the result of tampered devices or battery malfunctions. Despite the ambiguity, the incident represents a significant security breach and has intensified the ongoing conflict in the region. As the situation remains precarious, Macron’s calls for restraint aim to prevent further violence and potential casualties on both sides.
