Israeli agents target Hezbollah with weaponised pagers, 39 killed
Explosive-packed pagers sent to Hezbollah kill 39, injure thousands
Israeli agents devised a plan to weaken Hezbollah by sending weaponised pagers to Lebanon earlier this year. The pagers contained batteries with hidden plastic explosives and a new type of detonator invisible to X-ray scans. An unnamed source with direct knowledge of the operation, along with teardown photos of the battery pack, provided this information.
To cover up the primary flaw, the agents created fake online stores, pages, and posts to deceive Hezbollah’s verification processes. The intricate design of the explosive-packed pagers and the fabricated backstory of the batteries highlight a long-term strategy aimed at Israel’s enemy in Lebanon, moving the region closer to conflict.
A thin sheet of six grams of PETN plastic explosive was placed between two battery cells, with a flammable strip acting as a detonator. The components, enclosed in a black plastic sleeve and metal casing, lacked a standard detonator, making them undetectable by X-ray. When Hezbollah received the pagers in February, they scanned them but found nothing suspicious.
Experts believe the device was intended to spark the detonator and trigger an explosion, although the battery pack had reduced power due to the space occupied by the explosives. Despite noticing that the batteries were draining faster than usual, Hezbollah did not see this as a major issue and continued to distribute the pagers just hours before the attack.
On September 17, thousands of pagers exploded simultaneously in Hezbollah strongholds, mostly after beeping to signal an incoming message. Many sustained eye injuries, lost fingers, or had severe abdominal wounds, indicating their proximity to the explosions. In total, 39 people were killed and over 3,400 injured, with a second attack the following day involving weaponised walkie-talkies.
Externally, the pager’s power source appeared to be a standard lithium-ion battery pack common in many consumer electronics. However, the battery labelled LI-BT783 and the pager model did not exist in the market. To address this, Israeli agents fabricated an entire backstory for the product.
Given Hezbollah’s stringent procurement checks, the agents ensured their fictitious product would pass inspection. A former Israeli intelligence officer not involved in the operation mentioned that it’s essential for something to be found during such checks because finding nothing would arouse suspicion. Creating these false backstories, or “legends,” is a common tactic in espionage.
To deceive Hezbollah, Israeli agents marketed the custom-built pager model AR-924 under the name of a legitimate Taiwanese brand, Gold Apollo.
What Other Media Are Saying
- CNN reports on the deadly pager explosions in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, killing at least 9, injuring over 2,800, with Israel suspected behind the attack and Hezbollah vowing retaliation.(read more)
- Al Jazeera reports that Israel is accused of orchestrating the explosion of thousands of pagers and other devices in Lebanon, escalating tensions and tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.(read more)
- BBC News: Trump and Harris hold competing events in Pennsylvania, highlighting intense political efforts to persuade undecided voters in a crucial swing state.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What did Israeli agents use to weaken Hezbollah?
Weaponised pagers containing plastic explosives.
How did the pagers avoid detection?
They used a new type of detonator invisible to X-ray scans.
How did Israeli agents cover up the plan?
By creating fake online stores, pages, and posts.
What was the result of the pager explosions?
39 people were killed and over 3,400 injured.
Why did Hezbollah fail to detect the explosives?
The battery pack lacked a standard detonator, making it undetectable by X-ray.
