Israel-Hamas war latest: Pagers explode across Lebanon and parts of Syria

Hundreds of handheld pagers exploded almost simultaneously across Lebanon and in parts of Syria on Tuesday, killing at least nine people, government and Hezbollah officials said. Officials pointed the finger at Israel in what appeared to be a sophisticated, remote attack.

The Israeli military declined to comment.

Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire daily, coming close to a full-blown war on several occasions and forcing tens of thousands on both sides of the border to evacuate their homes.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The ministry does not differentiate between fighters and civilians in its count but says a little over half of those killed were women and children. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has caused vast destruction and displaced about 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.

Here's the latest:

Gold Apollo says it authorized its trademark on the pagers that exploded, but didn't manufacture them

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese company Gold Apollo says it authorized its brand on the pagers that exploded in Lebanon and Syria but that another company manufactured them.

Gold Apollo said Wednesday the pagers used by the Hezbollah militant group were produced and sold by a company called BAC that was authorized to use Gold Apollo’s trademark in some regions.

“Regarding the recent media reports about the AR-924 pager, we clarify that this model is produced and sold by BAC,” the Gold Apollo statement read. “We only provide brand trademark authorization and have no involvement in the design or manufacturing of this product.”

Experts believe explosive material was put into the pagers prior to their delivery and use in a sophisticated supply chain infiltration.

Aid workers’ access to northern Gaza is ‘extremely limited,’ United Nations spokesperson says

UNITED NATIONS — A United Nations assessment mission reached northern Gaza on Tuesday for the first time in four weeks, a U.N. spokesperson said. It waited more than five hours at an Israeli checkpoint before being allowed to head to Gaza City, said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

He said access for aid workers remains “extremely limited.” During the first half of September, only a quarter of the nearly 50 missions led by seven different U.N. agencies trying to get to the north were allowed to cross through Israeli checkpoints along Wadi Gaza, despite coordinating with Israeli authorities, Dujarric said.

“Even when these missions could cross, they often faced impediments along the way,” Dujarric said, adding that some convoys were stopped at gunpoint, shot at, or forced to wait for hours.

Hamas affirms its solidarity with Hezbollah

BEIRUT — Hamas has issued a statement condemning Tuesday's pager explosions.

“We appreciate the struggle and sacrifices of our brothers in Hezbollah, and their insistence on continuing to support and back our Palestinian people in Gaza, and we affirm our full solidarity with the Lebanese people and our brothers in Hezbollah,” a statement from Hamas said.

Hezbollah began firing rockets over the border into Israel on Oct. 8, the day after a deadly Hamas-led attack in southern Israel triggered a massive Israeli counteroffensive and the war in Gaza. Since then, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged strikes near-daily.

The Lebanese militant group has said it is supporting its ally, Hamas, and that it will stop its attacks if a cease-fire is reached in Gaza.

The pagers that exploded were a new brand, a Hezbollah official says

BEIRUT — The pagers that exploded Tuesday in Lebanon and Syria had apparently been acquired by Hezbollah after the group’s leader ordered members in February to stop using cellphones, warning they could be tracked by Israeli intelligence.

A Hezbollah official told The Associated Press the pagers were a new brand, but declined to say how long they had been in use. The Hezbollah official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

Experts said the pager explosions point to a sophisticated, long-planned operation, possibly carried out by infiltrating the supply chain and rigging the pagers with explosives before they were imported to Lebanon.

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Associated Press reporter Bassem Mroue contributed to this report.

Iraq's government and an Iraqi militia say they will help Lebanon

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government and an Iran-backed Iraqi militia are promising to send assistance to Lebanon.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani ordered Iraqi medical and emergency service teams to be sent, his office said in a statement.

The Kataeb Hezbollah militia, one of the most powerful among Iraq’s Iranian-backed armed groups, said in a separate statement that it would “put all our capabilities in the hands of the brothers in Lebanon.”

“We are fully prepared to go with them to the end, and to send fighters, equipment, and support, whether on the technical or logistical level,” it said.

The United States says it's gathering information on pager explosions

WASHINGTON — The United States says it's gathering information on the pager explosions in Lebanon and Syria.

“I can tell you that the U.S. was not involved in it,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "The U.S. was not aware of this incident in advance. And at this point, we’re gathering information.”

The son of a Hezbollah legislator is among those killed in Lebanon

BEIRUT — The son of a member of Hezbollah’s bloc in Lebanon's parliament was among those killed Tuesday.

The sons of two other senior officials were wounded, a Hezbollah official said on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Prominent Hezbollah legislator Ali Ammar spoke to The Associated Press after his son was killed.

“This is a new Israeli aggression against Lebanon,” Ammar said. “The resistance will retaliate in a suitable way at the suitable time.”

A Hezbollah official said the wounded include the son of Hezbollah legislator Hassan Fadlallah and the son of senior security official Wafiq Safa.