In a coordinated and highly sophisticated attack on September 17, 2024, hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, killing at least 12 people and injuring thousands. The explosions occurred primarily in Hezbollah-controlled regions such as Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley. The attack, targeting Hezbollah’s communication network, was immediately attributed to Israel’s Mossad by both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government.

Mossad

Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, is widely regarded as one of the world’s most effective and secretive espionage organizations. Established in 1949, Mossad has a broad mandate covering intelligence gathering, covert operations, and counter-terrorism activities, with a primary focus on protecting Israel’s security interests. Over the decades, Mossad has been linked to numerous high-profile operations, such as the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1960 and the assassination of key figures in terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. Its expertise in sabotage, targeted killings, and the use of innovative technologies has made it a formidable player in the world of international intelligence.

Mossad‘s reach extends far beyond Israel’s borders, often operating in hostile territories to disrupt enemy plots or neutralize threats before they can materialize. The agency’s most notable operations include the rescue of Israeli hostages during Operation Entebbe in Uganda (1976) and the destruction of Iraq‘s nuclear reactor in 1981. Mossad’s involvement in covert missions targeting Iran’s nuclear program, along with assassinations of key figures associated with the program, has been a point of global focus. Its ability to execute complex operations while maintaining secrecy has contributed to its mystique and reputation as one of the most capable intelligence agencies in the world.

The pagers, which Hezbollah had introduced as a secure alternative to mobile phones to avoid Israeli surveillance, were compromised in transit before reaching Lebanon. We’ve been told that the pagers were all manufactured by a company called Gold Apollo, with the vast majority being the AP924 model. Reportedly, three other models were used as well. Gold Apollo is a Taiwanese company, and sources say Hezbollah officials ordered the pagers from them directly.

So, How Do Pagers End Up Exploding?

Experts believe the devices were tampered with by Mossad, which likely inserted explosives and a remote activation mechanism into the pagers during the manufacturing or shipping process. The devices remained dormant for months until they were remotely detonated, suggesting an intricate operation involving both physical modifications and remote activation technology.

Reports suggest that the highly explosive PETN was planted in the pagers, with detonations triggered by a specific alphanumeric message sent to the devices. Some Hezbollah members noticed their pagers heating up moments before the explosions, but many were caught off guard, leading to severe injuries primarily to the face, hands, and upper body.

At 3:30 PM local time, a message was sent to over 3,000 pagers belonging to Hezbollah members in Lebanon. There are reports of detonations in Syria and Iran as well. The devices emitted beeping sounds for several seconds before detonation. The explosions occurred not long after Israel’s security cabinet approved an expansion of their war objectives. There were over 2,800 injuries and, thus far, 12 reported deaths.