News

Exploding Pagers Kill 12 & Injure Thousands In Lebanon & Syria

Several news agencies are now reporting that Israel’s Mossad was responsible for planting the devices used in the attack.

Published

6 months ago

September 18, 2024

Nour Nasir

exploding pagers kill 12 and injure thousands in lebanon and syria

Getty Images

Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian citizens have been injured in an attack that used modified pagers loaded with explosives. Lebanon’s health minister, Firass Abiad, confirmed that twelve people, including a young child, had been killed. Meanwhile, the state media agency, NNA, announced that a further 2,800 people were injured.

By yesterday evening (Tuesday, September 17), the New York Times had reported that Israel was to blame for the attacks, stating: “Israel carried out its operation against Hezbollah on Tuesday by hiding explosive material within a new batch of Taiwanese-made pagers imported into Lebanon, according to American and other officials briefed on the operation”.

Israel's Mossad spy agency planted explosives inside 5,000 pagers imported by Lebanese group Hezbollah months before Tuesday's detonations, a senior Lebanese security source and another source told @Reuters https://t.co/8m4tTa4BSQ pic.twitter.com/O78WXLWUHp

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 18, 2024

Reuters also reported that it had gained information from a “senior Lebanese security source” and “another source” that Hezbollah had imported 5,000 pagers from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo. However, at some point in the supply chain, the units were intercepted and replaced with modified versions carrying explosives. The source also claimed that Israel’s Mossad spy agency was responsible, adding around three grams of high-explosive material inside the casing of each device.

The Importance Of Pagers To Hezbollah

As we have seen in both the Ukraine war and in places such as Afghanistan, smartphone communications can be deadly, as they’re relatively easy to intercept and give away the exact location of the person operating them.

gold apollo exploding pagers in lebanon

For that reason, groups waging asymmetric warfare prefer to use low-tech communication methods such as hand-delivered letters or, in this case, old-school devices like pagers.

Reuters sources said 3,000 pagers exploded after 15:00 local time after being triggered by receiving a coded message. According to the New York Times, the message “appeared as though it was coming from Hezbollah’s leadership”.

Also Read: The Top 10 Worst Cyberattacks In The Middle East Revealed

Videos of the exploding pagers have already spread like wildfire across news networks and social media platforms. One shows a man at a store checkout looking down to view his pager before it explodes, pushing him backwards. Another CCTV video from a market shows a man sustaining injuries after one of the modified devices explodes in his bag.

News

Samsung To Roll Out One UI 7 Starting April 7

The update will introduce AI-driven tools and Google integration, along with a fresh design and enhanced personalization options.

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2025

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Samsung has confirmed that One UI 7 will officially begin rolling out on April 7, bringing a fresh design and enhanced personalization options. This update is tailored for a more intuitive user experience, powered by AI-driven improvements. Initially, One UI 7 will be available in the U.S. on the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6, and Z Flip6 starting April 10. The rollout will gradually expand to more Galaxy smartphones and tablets in the following weeks.

Refined Design And More Customization

With One UI 7, Samsung is introducing a cleaner, more cohesive look aimed at making customization easier and more intuitive. The home screen, widgets, and lock screen have been redesigned to streamline navigation and personalization.

One standout feature is Now Bar, which provides real-time updates directly on the lock screen. Whether checking workout progress during a run or seeing what’s playing on Galaxy Buds, users can access key information with just a swipe — no need to unlock the phone.

AI-Powered Enhancements For A Smoother Experience

Samsung has integrated AI into One UI 7 to make everyday interactions more seamless and efficient. Galaxy AI helps users complete tasks with minimal app switching, while AI Select suggests relevant actions based on selected content. For instance, users can swipe the Edge Panel and tap the AI Select icon while watching a video to instantly create a GIF.

Writing Assist — a favorite tool for Galaxy users — will now offer automatic text summarization and formatting. Meanwhile, Drawing Assist provides a creative boost by generating visuals from text prompts, images, or sketches. Another highlight, Audio Eraser, allows users to fine-tune video sound by isolating and adjusting different audio elements.

Also Read: Google’s Alphabet To Acquire Cybersecurity Firm Wiz For $32 Billion

Finally, Samsung has added greater integration with Google Gemini. Users can simply activate Gemini and ask, “Find Italian restaurants with outdoor seating that are pet friendly” to get instant recommendations. Natural language search also makes adjusting settings easier — users can now tap the mic icon in Settings and say, My eyes feel tired, to receive suggestions like dimming the screen or enabling Eye Comfort Shield.

Device Compatibility And Rollout Schedule

The One UI 7 update will begin rolling out on April 7, with more devices receiving it in the weeks that follow. Compatible models include the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, and the Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S9 series.