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The explosion of thousands of handheld pagers used by Lebanese Hizbullah operatives on September 17, 2024, which Hizbullah ascribed to Israel in three different statements since the explosions,[1] has drawn global reactions. Celebratory messages were published by supporters of Salafi-jihadi organizations, mocking the Shi'ites for underestimating the "enemy's" infiltration, and praying for additional attacks against Hizbullah and Shi'ites.
Pro-Islamic State Media Outlet Mocks Hizbullah
Promoting Hizbullah's narrative that the attack was orchestrated by Israel, the pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Bariqah News Agency mocked the occurrence in a post over Telegram, considering it a proof that "the Jews impaled the Rafidites [pejorative slur for Shi'ites]."[2]
The post, published on September 17, included five photos which displayed the attack's scope, showing injured individuals bleeding on the streets. In four videos, the news agency displayed documented footage of the pagers exploding simultaneously.
The channel further claimed that pagers also exploded in the vicinity of Damascus, Syria.
Subsequently, Lathi', a pro-ISIS Telegram channel, celebrated the "Jewish-cyber-attack" as well. The post noted that Iran's ambassador in Lebanon had been injured in the explosion. The account added mockingly in a following post: "Israel booby-trapped all Hizbullah operatives."[3]
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Pro-Al-Qaeda: "Overwhelmed With Joy"
The following day, Canada-based pro-Al-Qaeda cleric Tariq Abdelhaleem expressed an "overwhelming joy" over the pager explosions, on his Telegram channel. [4]
Showing bewilderment over the extent of Israeli "infiltration," Abdelhaleem wrote: "If we get over the feeling of joy that overwhelmed us all […] We must consider to what extent the entity [Israel] has infiltrated all the countries, factions, and movements existing in the Sunni world. The matter is extremely frightening!"
Abdelhaleem further lashed out at Arab and Muslim leaders, accusing their "small regimes and cantons" of working endlessly for decades "to tighten the grip over us and surround us from every side" to serve the "pigs and monkeys," he asserted:
"Egypt's President Abdelfattah El Sisi is busy destroying Egypt for the sake of Israel, Saudi Crown Prince Muhmmad Bin Salman is busy with entertainment triviality, and UAE President Muhammad Bin Zayed is busy supporting Israel by all means," Abdelhaleem stated, concluding: "They are all working against the interest of Sunni Muslims."
Syrian Jihadists Pray For Additional Attacks Against Hizbullah
On September 18, Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) preacher Shurayh Al-Homsi shared a celebratory post featuring a cartoon depicting a Hizbullah cleric fleeing from a pager.
Quoting the Quran verse: "And He will soothe the hearts of the believers [9:14 At-Tawba]," Al-Homsi prayed: "Let them taste some of what they made the Sunnis endure in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. O Allah, increase the [number of] slain and wounded. O Allah do not spare any of them. O Allah, show us your revenge against them."[5]
Another jihadi Telegram channel, "From Idlib," which reports on developments in Syria's rebel-held Idlib region, posted a message wondering if the attack against Hizbullah was part of Allah's scheme against the "aggressors," even in their safest hideouts.[6]
The channel wrote sarcastically: "Congratulations to the Rafidites [pejorative for Shi'ites] on what befell them of Allah's punishment and let them expect more of Allah's revenge on behalf of his people [Sunnis]."
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