Macron calls for restraint following deadly pager explosions in Lebanon

Explosions, targeting Hezbollah members, results in at least 20 deaths, including children and 3000 injured

French President Emmanuel Macron urged restraint in the Middle East after a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon involving pager devices.

Macron held separate calls with Lebanese political and military leaders, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to prevent further escalation amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.

The explosions, which targeted Hezbollah members in both Lebanon and Syria, resulted in at least 20 deaths, including children, and injured nearly 3,000 people, with hundreds critically wounded.

Among the injured is Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani.

The explosions have sparked anger in Beirut, with Hezbollah accusing Israel of planting explosives in the pagers, an allegation Israel has not officially addressed.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has vowed retaliation, further raising fears of a broader conflict.

The explosions occurred as tensions between Hezbollah and Israel continue to escalate, with both sides exchanging fire almost daily.

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the scale of the casualties, while reports indicated that Hezbollah fighters in Syria were also impacted by the blasts, with several receiving treatment in Damascus.

The issue of the pager devices has drawn international attention, with both Hungary and Taiwan distancing themselves from the manufacturing of the explosive devices.

Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo, which had licensed its pager brand to Budapest-based BAC Consulting, emphasized that while the company allowed the use of its trademark, it had no involvement in the design or production of the devices.

Hungarian officials, including government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs, rejected claims that the pagers were manufactured in Hungary.

Kovacs stated that BAC Consulting is merely an intermediary company with no production facilities in Hungary.

“The devices have never been in Hungary and pose no national security risk,” Kovacs said, adding that Hungarian authorities are working with international agencies to further investigate the matter.

BAC Consulting, a company registered in May 2022, has come under scrutiny, with its CEO, Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, denying any involvement in the production of the explosive pagers.

Barsony-Arcidiacono clarified that her company was only responsible for intermediary services related to the sale of the pagers’ trademark.

The use of pagers by Hezbollah highlights the group’s reliance on older, less traceable technology to avoid Israeli surveillance.

While mobile phones can be tracked, pagers offer a level of operational security in areas with poor mobile coverage.

However, this latest incident shows that even these devices are vulnerable to sabotage.

Speculation has arisen over whether the explosions were caused by tampered devices or battery malfunctions. Despite the uncertainty, the incident represents a serious security breach and has intensified the ongoing conflict in the region.

As the situation remains tense, Macron’s calls for restraint aim to prevent the violence from escalating into a wider war, with the potential for further casualties on both sides.