The Exploding Pagers: A Modern Trojan Horse
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In a shocking turn of events, the Israeli government did not tamper with the Hezbollah devices that exploded; it manufactured them as part of an elaborate ruse. The pagers began beeping just after 3:30 in the afternoon in Lebanon, alerting Hezbollah operatives to a message from their leadership. But the pages had been sent by Hezbollah’s archenemy, Israel, and within seconds the alerts were followed by the sounds of explosions and cries of pain and panic.
Israeli intelligence officials saw an opportunity when Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, decided to shift to low-tech communication to avoid Israeli surveillance. Even before Mr. Nasrallah's decision, Israel had established a shell company, B.A.C. Consulting, posing as an international pager producer. This company was part of an Israeli front, and it produced pagers with batteries laced with the explosive PETN, specifically for Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's Shift to Low-Tech Communication
In response to Israel's high-tech surveillance, Hezbollah opted for pagers, believing they could receive data without giving away their location. Mr. Nasrallah banned cellphones from meetings and ordered that details of Hezbollah movements and plans never be communicated over cellphones. Hezbollah officers were instructed to carry pagers at all times, and in the event of war, pagers would be used to tell fighters where to go.
The Shell Company and the Booby-Trapped Devices
B.A.C. Consulting, based in Hungary, appeared to be under contract to produce the devices on behalf of a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. In reality, it was part of an Israeli front, with at least two other shell companies created to mask the real identities of the people creating the pagers: Israeli intelligence officers. The pagers began shipping to Lebanon in the summer of 2022 and were quickly ramped up after Mr. Nasrallah denounced cell phones.
The Aftermath: Chaos and Casualties
The explosions caused widespread chaos and casualties. By the end of the day, at least a dozen people were dead and more than 2,700 were wounded, many of them maimed. The following day, 20 more people were killed and hundreds wounded when walkie-talkies also began mysteriously exploding. The blasts sent people flying off motorcycles, slamming into walls, and falling to the ground in agony. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and Hezbollah reported that at least eight of its fighters were killed, but noncombatants, including children, were also drawn into the fray.
The Warning: Turn Off Your Phones
The second wave of explosions prompted a panicked response from the Lebanese public. Amid the acrid smoke, mourners at a funeral stampeded for the streets, seeking shelter. Many were afraid that their phones, or the phones of those around them, were about to explode. The chaos led to a desperate plea: "Turn off your phones now!"
In the wake of the explosions, Lebanon is left reeling, with a stark reminder that even the most common communication devices can be transformed into instruments of death. The incident has raised concerns about the future of warfare and the lengths to which nations will go to gain a tactical advantage.