Hezbollah, the powerful Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon, was caught off guard this week as thousands of Gold Apollo branded pagers, which they had distributed to members, detonated in a series of coordinated attacks. The explosions, which occurred across Hezbollah strongholds in south Lebanon, Beirut’s suburbs, and the eastern Bekaa valley, resulted in the deaths of at least 37 people, including two children, and injured over 3,000.
The attacks, which also targeted Hezbollah walkie-talkies, have shaken the group’s confidence in its security protocols. According to security sources, Hezbollah members were still receiving new pagers just hours before the explosions, demonstrating a belief in their safety. However, the detonations revealed that the devices had been tampered with, with explosives concealed inside for months.
Hezbollah has accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks, a claim that Israel has neither denied nor confirmed. A Western security source has implicated Israel’s secretive Unit 8200 in the planning. The walkie-talkie explosions, which killed 25 people and injured over 650, carried a higher explosive payload than the pagers, suggesting a deliberate escalation in the attacks.
The explosions have raised serious questions about Hezbollah’s security measures and the effectiveness of its equipment screening processes. The group had conducted routine checks, including carrying the pagers through airport security, to ensure they were not rigged with explosives or surveillance mechanisms. Despite these efforts, the attacks suggest that security protocols were inadequate or that the explosives were expertly concealed.
Hezbollah has acknowledged the breaches, describing the attacks as “unprecedented in the history” of the group. In response, they have intensified their security sweep, examining all communications equipment and investigating the supply chains through which the pagers were imported. However, the investigation into precisely how and when the devices were tampered with is ongoing.
The incidents highlight the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which has flared up in recent years. The use of pagers, which are less easily monitored than mobile phones, suggests that Hezbollah was trying to avoid Israeli surveillance. While Hezbollah has historically been regarded as a formidable force, the recent attacks have exposed potential vulnerabilities and could have implications for the future of the group’s operations.
