Adem Seneman*
On September 17th, one of the most significant attacks in Lebanon’s security history occurred when pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded. The explosions injured around 1,000 people, while 9 lost their lives. Among the injured, 200 are in critical condition. According to the BBC, the explosions were caused by Israel hacking the pagers. Israel has not yet made any statement regarding the incident.
Local media report that the explosions occurred in areas such as Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Health has warned citizens using these devices, advising them to refrain from using them. The attack has resonated globally, as it highlighted the potential danger posed by similar devices used by millions of people worldwide.
As more details of the incident emerged, initial estimates that the attack was caused by battery explosions were proven wrong. Speculation that Israel infiltrated Hezbollah’s communication network and overheated the devices’ lithium batteries, causing them to explode, was quickly dismissed by military experts. However, even though this possibility was ruled out, it did not diminish the sophistication of the attack. The fact that Israel remotely carried out such an operation affecting thousands of people worldwide was met with shock.
Looking at how pagers work, it is evident that these devices transmit text data via radio signals. While they were widespread in the 1980s and 1990s, they are now rare in most Western countries. In the past, communication was often established by sending a phone number requesting a callback.
According to Al Jazeera military analyst Elijah Magnier, such a large-scale operation would require the cooperation of multiple intelligence services. If Israeli intelligence managed to intercept these devices used by Hezbollah, it might also have gained access to the equipment supplied to Hezbollah by Iran. It is speculated that small amounts of powerful explosives were placed inside the devices, indicating a leak in the supply chain. Magnier suggests that even in small quantities, such an operation would require the presence of high-powered explosives, with an estimated 1 to 3 grams (0.4 to 0.11 ounces) of high-powered explosives manually inserted into each pager.
The claims that the devices exploded on their own in the areas where the attacks took place are not considered realistic by experts. This is because the explosions were not due to malfunctions of the pagers but were caused by explosives placed inside the devices, triggered by radio frequencies. It seems that Israel, with the help of another country, placed the explosives and prepared these devices before they reached Hezbollah.
According to a report by the BBC’s Frank Gardner, a former British ordnance expert suggests that the explosives could have been hidden inside the devices and activated by an alphanumeric message. This would mean that the explosives would be triggered the next time the user operated the pager. Although less than 1% of the explosions were fatal, hundreds of people were severely injured, dealing a psychological blow to Hezbollah. The British military ordnance expert also suggested that the explosives were likely hidden inside a fake electronic component, each containing between 10 and 20 grams of military-grade high explosives.
According to information obtained by Sky News’ Deborah Haynes, a security expert noted that these devices could have been tampered with before distribution. For instance, explosives hidden inside the devices could have been remotely detonated when a specific signal was sent.
One of the most specific attacks in security history has made its mark as of September 17th. What elevates the significance of this attack is that it was a massive intelligence operation. It appears that the supply chain of these devices was infiltrated to place explosives inside thousands of them. This stage alone was a major challenge, but securely placing explosives inside the devices was the second major difficulty. Israeli intelligence overcame this challenge by infiltrating both Hezbollah and Iranian intelligence.
The complex nature of the incident shows that a long and arduous intelligence process took place, involving information gathering, infiltration, placement, distribution, and finally the activation of explosives.
Moreover, the scale and nature of the event show that a multi-layered intelligence network and communications with several networks were used to carry out one of the most sophisticated attacks in modern history. This incident provides an important example of how modern warfare can be conducted. The integration of cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and intelligence will likely shape the future direction of military operations. However, the ethical and legal dimensions of such attacks will also be opened for debate, as many civilians may face life-threatening risks as a result.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began with Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and continued after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. However, this withdrawal did not end Hezbollah’s fight against Israel; instead, Hezbollah continued to grow stronger. The 34-day war in 2006 was one of the most intense conflicts between the two sides, and Hezbollah emerged from that war with psychological superiority. However, the ‘pager attack’ on September 17th dealt a blow to Hezbollah and Iran’s proxies, causing them to lose that psychological upper hand.
*Adem Seneman is a journalist focusing on international security and geopolitics.
