Hezbollah Pagers Explode in Coordinated Attack, Inside Israel's Alleged Operation
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In a rare and highly coordinated strike, hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members across Lebanon were destroyed in near-simultaneous explosions on Tuesday. The attack, unprecedented in scale, has drawn international attention as it highlights both Israel’s intelligence capabilities and Hezbollah’s vulnerabilities. While Israel has not publicly commented, reports indicate that Mossad and the Israeli military executed the operation.
The Incident: A Blow to Hezbollah's Communication Network
At 3:30 p.m. local time, pagers used by Hezbollah operatives began to explode. The Lebanese government has condemned the attack, calling it "criminal Israeli aggression." These devices were part of Hezbollah's low-tech communication strategy, meant to avoid infiltration from Israeli and U.S. spyware. However, this move backfired, as the explosions revealed serious vulnerabilities in Hezbollah's internal network.
Several areas, especially Beirut’s southern suburbs, were heavily impacted. Videos circulating on social media showed pedestrians and shoppers collapsing in the streets, with wounds ranging from lost fingers to severe lacerations. At least nine people were killed, and 2,800 others were wounded, overwhelming Lebanese hospitals.
Why Was Hezbollah Using Pagers?
Hezbollah has long prioritized secrecy in its operations, avoiding modern, high-tech communication devices that could be easily infiltrated by Israeli or U.S. intelligence. Earlier this year, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged members and their families to stop using cell phones, warning that these devices were vulnerable to Israeli tracking.
Instead, Hezbollah opted to use pagers, believing they were safer. According to Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, the decision to switch to pagers was driven by the need for "low-tech" alternatives that were harder to hack or target.
However, this strategy failed spectacularly in Tuesday’s attack, as the pagers themselves became the medium through which Hezbollah was targeted.
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"Hezbollah regressed back to these devices thinking they would be safer," said Melamed, "but these very low-tech devices were used against them, deepening the stress and embarrassment on their leadership."
How Were the Pagers Exploited?
Speculation about how the attack was executed has led to various theories. The New York Times reported that Israel inserted explosives into pagers manufactured by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company. The devices were then remotely detonated. Most of the pagers were of the AP924 model, which Hezbollah had acquired in recent months.
Images shared on social media show damaged pagers, though the authenticity of these claims is still under investigation. David Kennedy, a former U.S. National Security Agency intelligence analyst, remarked that the explosions appeared too large to be caused by a simple remote hack and suggested that human intelligence inside Hezbollah was crucial to pulling off the attack.
The Purpose Behind the Attack
According to John Miller, CNN’s Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst, this operation sent a clear message to Hezbollah: "We can reach you anywhere, anytime, at the press of a button." The attack is believed to have caused significant paranoia within Hezbollah ranks, undermining the group's ability to recruit and retain members, while eroding trust in its leadership.
Additionally, Amos Yadlin, a former Israeli military intelligence chief, speculated that this operation could have been a warning to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, signaling that continued attacks against Israel would come at a steep price. Yadlin suggested that the precision and scope of the attack demonstrated Israel's superior intelligence capabilities.
Escalating Tensions in the Region
This attack occurs amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel. Hezbollah has supported Hamas by carrying out attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. With Hezbollah in possession of a large arsenal of weapons, this incident has further inflamed the situation, raising concerns of a potential wider conflict.
Global leaders, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, have been in constant communication with Israeli officials in an attempt to prevent an escalation of hostilities.
Conclusion:
The destruction of hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah in a coordinated Israeli attack marks a significant blow to the militant group. The operation demonstrated Israel's penetration of Hezbollah’s communications and underscored the ongoing risks in the volatile region. As tensions continue to rise, this event could have far-reaching implications for both Hezbollah and Israel.
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