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In an unprecedented security breach, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkie radios used by Hezbollah members detonated across Lebanon in simultaneous explosions. This coordinated attack, spanning Tuesday and Wednesday, claimed the lives of at least 26 people and wounded thousands. The explosions shocked Hezbollah and the broader region, raising questions about how such a sophisticated attack was carried out and who was responsible.
How Did the Pagers and Walkie-Talkies Explode?
The explosions are believed to have been caused by small amounts of explosives that were secretly embedded inside 5,000 pagers ordered by Hezbollah. According to a senior Lebanese security source, Israel’s Mossad was behind the plot, planting explosives within the pagers that would detonate when a coded message was sent. The devices appeared tampered with before reaching Lebanon.
The source told Reuters that Mossad inserted a board with explosive material that could receive and execute remote commands. “It’s very hard to detect through any means. Even with any device or scanner,” the source added. The explosives, hidden next to the pager batteries, were undetectable for months.
At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a coded message, seemingly from Hezbollah’s leadership, was sent to the pagers, causing 3,000 of them to explode simultaneously. Video footage circulating online appears to show victims checking their pagers moments before the devices detonated.
The source told Reuters that Mossad inserted a board with explosive material that could receive and execute remote commands. “It’s very hard to detect through any means. Even with any device or scanner,” the source added. The explosives, hidden next to the pager batteries, were undetectable for months.
At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a coded message, seemingly from Hezbollah’s leadership, was sent to the pagers, causing 3,000 of them to explode simultaneously. Video footage circulating online appears to show victims checking their pagers moments before the devices detonated.
The Walkie-Talkies: A Similar Story
Less information has emerged regarding the walkie-talkies that exploded on Wednesday. However, these devices had also been acquired by Hezbollah around the same time as the pagers, suggesting a long-term, coordinated effort to infiltrate Hezbollah’s communication systems. The walkie-talkies bore the label “ICOM,” a Japan-based company. The wireless communications company, aware of the reports, is investigating the situation. However, no confirmation has been made about whether ICOM products were involved.
Analysts believe Mossad tampered with these devices at the production level. According to an American official, the devices were sabotaged before they even arrived in Lebanon, with explosive material concealed within the walkie-talkies.
Analysts believe Mossad tampered with these devices at the production level. According to an American official, the devices were sabotaged before they even arrived in Lebanon, with explosive material concealed within the walkie-talkies.
Why Does Hezbollah Still Use Pagers and Walkie-Talkies?
In the age of smartphones, it might seem outdated for Hezbollah to rely on pagers and walkie-talkies. However, these devices serve a crucial role in the militant group’s strategy. Pagers are low-tech but effective for secure communication, as they are much harder to track than mobile phones. Unlike mobile phones, pagers do not “ping” cell towers to transmit signals, making it difficult for Israeli intelligence to monitor them. This gives Hezbollah some level of anonymity, as pagers do not send communication signals, only receiving messages.
Similarly, walkie-talkies, while trackable, are harder to monitor than mobile phones. Hezbollah’s use of these low-tech tools is part of their strategy to evade Israel’s advanced surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.
Similarly, walkie-talkies, while trackable, are harder to monitor than mobile phones. Hezbollah’s use of these low-tech tools is part of their strategy to evade Israel’s advanced surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.
What Does This Mean for Hezbollah?
The explosions represent one of the most severe intelligence failures Hezbollah has experienced in decades. Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. government intelligence officer, described the incident as Hezbollah’s biggest counterintelligence failure in decades. While Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, the damage to its morale and operational security is significant.
In this ongoing conflict, where technology plays a critical role, the ability to compromise Hezbollah’s communication devices may provide Israel with a major advantage. However, Hezbollah is likely to reassess its security protocols, possibly abandoning even pagers and walkie-talkies in favor of even lower-tech alternatives.
For now, the situation remains tense as Hezbollah grapples with this unexpected breach, and both sides prepare for the next phase of their long-standing conflict.
In this ongoing conflict, where technology plays a critical role, the ability to compromise Hezbollah’s communication devices may provide Israel with a major advantage. However, Hezbollah is likely to reassess its security protocols, possibly abandoning even pagers and walkie-talkies in favor of even lower-tech alternatives.
For now, the situation remains tense as Hezbollah grapples with this unexpected breach, and both sides prepare for the next phase of their long-standing conflict.
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