Israel Acted Swiftly: Preemptive Strike on Hezbollah’s Pagers to Avert Lebanon Plot Leak
Israeli officials detonated thousands of Hezbollah pagers in Lebanon on Tuesday, acting sooner than planned due to fears that the Iranian-backed group had uncovered their operation, according to multiple reports.
The decision, reportedly greenlit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came after intelligence suggested Hezbollah might have detected explosives hidden within the devices, as detailed by the New York Post. These pagers, mainly the AR-924 model, were said to have been modified before shipment from a Taiwanese manufacturer, Gold Apollo.
Explosives were placed near the battery, equipped with a remote activation switch, allowing for a coordinated detonation. Following the initial attack, a second wave of explosions took place on Wednesday when walkie-talkie radios used by Hezbollah also detonated. This escalation was prompted by concerns that Hezbollah operatives might abandon their devices after the first round of explosions.
Strategic Disruption
According to CNN intelligence analyst Bob Baer, the strikes have severely disrupted Hezbollah’s communication network, potentially setting the stage for an impending military offensive in Lebanon. He noted that the recent attacks left Hezbollah struggling to coordinate operations effectively, thereby granting Israel a significant strategic advantage in the ongoing conflict.
Baer indicated that comments from Israel’s defense minister reflect a shift in focus toward Hezbollah, as Israel “pivots north” after directing efforts toward Gaza. He warned that this escalation could lead to an invasion or extensive bombardment of Lebanon, describing Israel’s breach of Hezbollah’s supply and communication networks as a “great defeat” for the group.
Hezbollah reportedly began using pagers earlier this year due to concerns that their cell phones were vulnerable to Israeli surveillance and attacks. Group leaders had advised members to discard smartphones in favor of these older devices, but this switch proved fatal, as the pagers were compromised.
Final Opportunity
Veteran Israeli investigative journalist Ronen Bergman shared with Israel’s Channel 12 that the number of communications devices destroyed on Wednesday was fewer than on Tuesday. However, the larger devices targeted that day contained more explosives, resulting in stronger blasts. “Anyone close to these devices would have had a significantly lower chance of surviving,” he explained.
Bergman noted that the targeted devices included walkie-talkies used for military communications and other components, aiming to demonstrate the vulnerability of Hezbollah’s military communication network. He suggested that those executing the detonations may have believed Hezbollah would inspect its supplies after the initial attack, viewing the timing as “the last chance” to act.
The Lebanese government and Hezbollah condemned the attacks as acts of “criminal Israeli aggression.” Hezbollah officials have pledged retaliation, with senior figure Hashim Safi Al Din warning of “uniquely bloody revenge” for what he termed a treacherous assault on their operatives.
While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, U.S. officials and various reports indicate that Mossad and Israeli military forces collaborated on the operation. Analysts suggest this incident illustrates an unprecedented level of infiltration into Hezbollah’s communications network, raising concerns about further escalations in violence in the West Asia region.
