Yesterday, a coordinated attack involving the detonation of hundreds of pagers across Lebanon and Syria resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, and injuries to thousands. The devices, used by Hezbollah members, were AR-924 models produced by BAC Consulting, a Hungarian company that licensed the brand from Taiwan-based Gold Apollo. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government blamed Israel for the attack, accusing it of embedding explosives in the pagers before they were delivered. The explosions primarily targeted Hezbollah members, escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have been trading fire since the October 7 Hamas attack in Gaza.
The incident marks a major breach in Hezbollah’s security as the group had adopted pagers to avoid tracking via cell phones. Hezbollah had switched to using these pagers in February under the direction of their leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who warned members that cell phones could be used by Israeli intelligence for surveillance. The AR-924 pagers were believed to be safe, but Israel’s Mossad is suspected of rigging the devices with small explosive charges during production. These charges were remotely detonated by sending a coded message to the pagers, causing them to heat up and explode almost simultaneously.
This attack has further deepened the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Since the war in Gaza began, Israel has been conducting airstrikes against Hezbollah targets and senior officials, aiming to weaken its operations. In response, Hezbollah has been launching rockets at northern Israel, contributing to a volatile situation that has already displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. The use of explosive-rigged pagers reflects Israel’s history of using innovative methods in its covert operations.
Hezbollah has vowed retaliation for what it called a “criminal aggression,” accusing Israel of targeting civilians and promising severe retribution. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was among the injured, further intensifying the regional implications of the attack. The blasts occurred in areas with a high Hezbollah presence, including southern Beirut and the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as Damascus in Syria.
Experts suggest the operation was meticulously planned, likely involving the infiltration of the supply chain to plant the explosives. The AR-924 pagers, intended to be a secure form of communication for Hezbollah, were turned into deadly weapons by this breach. The scale of the explosions, which occurred in public areas like grocery stores and roadsides, has sparked concerns about Hezbollah’s vulnerability and its ability to maintain secure communications going forward.
This attack adds to the series of covert operations attributed to Israel, including the assassination of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in recent months. The broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to threaten regional stability, with international officials warning that the situation could spiral into a larger confrontation involving Iran and the U.S. as tensions escalate.
