In an incident that has shocked the international community and raised tensions in the Middle East, thousands of pagers used by members of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, exploded nearly simultaneously across Lebanon on September 17, 2024, resulting in at least nine deaths, and thousands of injuries.
The sophisticated method behind the explosions
The pagers were identified as the AR-924 model, manufactured by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company. However, the company has clarified that the pagers were not directly produced by them but by another entity under license, suggesting a complex supply chain manipulation.
According to reports and analyses, each pager was tampered with, embedding small amounts of high-explosive material, likely PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate), next to the device’s battery. This explosive was detonated remotely, possibly through a signal that raised the battery temperature to the ignition point or via a direct detonation command.
Who did it?
While no official claim has been made, several reports pointed towards Israel, given that the targets were mostly Hezbollah members and also the level of sophistication involved in the operation.
The attack came shortly after Israel’s security cabinet announced a new war objective aimed at the safe return of residents to northern Israel, potentially linked to this operation. US officials, while denying direct involvement or prior knowledge, confirmed that Israel briefed them post-operation, hinting at Israeli orchestration.
Hezbollah hit badly
This incident has not only caused physical harm but has also dealt a psychological blow to Hezbollah, showcasing the vulnerability of its communication channels.
Hezbollah, known for its secrecy and robust security measures, now faces internal scrutiny and a potential loss of trust among its ranks and supporters. The method used in this attack, which involved compromising the supply chain at a manufacturing level, suggests a long-term intelligence operation, possibly years in the making, to infiltrate Hezbollah’s operational security.
Global Response
The international community has reacted with a mix of condemnation and caution.
The Lebanese government and Hezbollah have accused Israel of ‘criminal aggression,’ while global powers like the US have tread carefully, avoiding direct accusations but acknowledging the incident’s gravity.