Thousands of people in Lebanon were injured on Tuesday after pagers used by the armed group Hezbollah exploded almost simultaneously.
Experts are puzzled by the cause of the explosions.
This incident has raised questions about why Hezbollah relies on such outdated technology.
Thousands of people in Lebanon were injured on Tuesday after pagers used by the armed group Hezbollah exploded almost simultaneously. This incident has raised questions about why Hezbollah relies on such outdated technology. The explosions began in Beirut and spread to other parts of Lebanon at around 15:45 local time (13:45 BST). Witnesses reported seeing smoke and hearing explosions that resembled fireworks and gunshots. One CCTV clip even showed an explosion coming from a man’s trouser pocket while he was at a store.
Experts are puzzled by the cause of the explosions. Some suggested a hack might have led to the pager batteries overheating, but this explanation seems unlikely. More plausible is a supply chain attack, where the pagers were tampered with during manufacturing or transit. This theory suggests a highly sophisticated operation, possibly involving hidden explosives inside the devices.
Also read: 1000s of pagers explode across Lebanon in major security attack, can the same happen to your phone?
Why Hezbollah still uses pagers?
Why does Hezbollah, a group known for its security measures, still use pagers? The answer lies in their attempt to avoid detection. Pagers offer a low-tech alternative to mobile phones. Hezbollah’s choice reflects a strategy to evade location-tracking by Israel by using a communication method that is less vulnerable to modern tracking technologies.
Hezbollah has used pagers for years to communicate discreetly. Mobile phones, which are more advanced, have been deemed too risky. For example, in 1996, Israel used a phone to kill Hamas bomb-maker Yahya Ayyash by making it explode in his hand.
Emily Harding, an ex-analyst with the CIA, said the security breach was deeply embarrassing to Hezbollah. “A breach of this magnitude is not only physically harmful, but will also make them question their entire security apparatus,” she told the BBC. “I would expect to see them conduct an intensive internal investigation that will distract them from a potential fight with Israel.”
So, in short, Hezbollah’s use of pagers is a deliberate choice to minimise the risk of surveillance and tracking. However, the recent explosions suggest that even seemingly outdated technology can be vulnerable to sophisticated attacks, raising serious questions about the group’s security practices.
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Ayushi Jain
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