Mass Sabotage of Pagers in Lebanon: A Coordinated Strike
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Hashim Sheikh
- . September 19, 2024
- . Update: September 19, 2024 7:17 pm
Mass destruction of Lebanese pagers in recent days has caused concern all throughout the nation since many people wonder how such a big operation could have been carried out so perfectly. The action needed not only fast intelligence but also sophisticated technical capacity. Hezbollah has been wary of communication channels since the start of the Gaza battle last year, advising its members to stay away from cell phones for worries about Israeli intelligence meddling.
This concern results from earlier events as in 1996 when Israel’s Shin Bet agency detonated explosives in a Hamas bombmaker’s phone, killing him. Hezbollah started mostly using pagers as their means of communication in response to these dangers. Recently, a fresh batch of these pagers arrived meant to provide a safer substitute for cell phones.
But it seems that someone, someone Hezbollah absolutely thinks to be Israel, broke into the supply network for these devices. The accuracy and scope of the operation point to a great degree of cooperation and knowledge, which raises questions regarding the vulnerability of even the most secure communication instruments in conflict areas.
Methodologies of Sabotage and Explosive Devices
A former British Army weapons specialist who spoke to the BBC under anonymity claimed that the pagers were probably fitted with military-grade high explosives. Every device, the specialist said, had between 10 and 20 grams of explosive powder carefully hidden inside a phony electronic component. The explosion technique seems to have been caused by a signal, most likely started by an alphabetic text message delivered to the pager.
The next user of the armed device would unintentionally set off the bomb, detonating it. Although just a tiny fraction of the exploding pagers have caused deaths, the psychological effects on Hezbollah and Lebanon generally are significant. The episode has set the nation on edge since hundreds of people have been gravely hurt and people now worry about using any kind of technological gadget.
The suddenness and scope of the explosions have left one vulnerable and unclear as nobody knows whether their phone, laptop, or other gadget could be similarly impacted.
Widespread Panic and Psychological Effect
The tension in Lebanon has been raised by the pagers exploding all over Tuesday and walkie-talkie blasts on Wednesday. Now Lebanon is dealing with the psychological effects of these events since the sabotage has harmed not just Hezbollah members but also others. “We don’s know if we can stay next to our laptops, our phones,” one Lebanese lady told the BBC.
This anxiety captures a more general paranoia and unease that have permeated the nation following the assaults. Claiming the lives of 20 persons and wounding at least 450 others, the walkie-talkie explosions were especially lethal. The pager explosions earlier in the week claimed twelve lives and left about 2,000 more injured. Although the death toll is still somewhat low in relation to the number of injured, the scope of the attacks is unheard-of. As the crisis develops, Lebanon’s Health Minister has cautioned the nation to get ready for the “worst-case scenario”.
Mossad’s Said Involvement and Israel’s Still Silence
Several sources have claimed that the sabotage—more especially, targeting Hezbollah members—was carried out by Israel’s Mossad espionage organization. This assertion fits Israel’s long-standing attempts via several clandestine actions to undermine Hezbollah. Israel has not formally spoken on the blasts, though.
Given the timing of the strikes, the absence of response has simply encouraged conjecture about its complicity. Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared “a new phase in the war,” on Wednesday; he did not specifically mention the explosives in Lebanon. The comment has been taken as a possible proof that Israel is stepping up its anti- Hezbollah campaign, maybe by means of clandestine sabotage activities like recent pager and walkie-talkie bursts. With both parties ready for more forceful strategies, this new phase could indicate more regional escalation.
Response of Hezbollah and Future Speech of Nasrallah
Leader of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah is supposed to make a televised statement on current affairs. This speech is much awaited since it can reveal Hezbollah’s next actions and how the organization intends to react to these unheard-of attacks. As Hezbollah negotiates this new chapter of warfare with Israel, Nasrallah’s response will probably define the tone for the group’s approach going ahead.
The Lebanese people stay on edge in the meanwhile not knowing what the future holds. Apart from hurting Hezbollah, the bombings have also affected the general state of security of the country. Lebanon is in a state of uncertainty as tensions increase and the battle between Hezbollah and Israel keeps getting more intense; fresh attacks are just waiting to strike.
