What's happened
On September 17, 2024, a series of explosions from tampered wireless pagers used by Hezbollah resulted in at least nine deaths and over 2,800 injuries in Lebanon. The attack, attributed to Israeli intelligence, raises significant security concerns for the militant group and its operations.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, the pagers were tampered with before reaching Hezbollah, with explosive materials implanted to detonate remotely. The report states, 'At 3:30 p.m. in Lebanon, the pagers received a message that appeared as though it was coming from Hezbollah’s leadership.' This sophisticated attack has been described as unprecedented, with analysts noting its implications for Hezbollah's security. Business Insider UK highlighted that the pagers were primarily the AP924 model from Gold Apollo, which Hezbollah had purchased. The founder of Gold Apollo stated, 'The product was not ours. It was only that it had our brand on it,' indicating a potential misattribution of responsibility. The South China Morning Post emphasized the intelligence success for Israel, suggesting that the pagers were sabotaged before delivery, marking a significant blow to Hezbollah's operational security.
How we got here
Hezbollah had recently shifted to using pagers for secure communications, fearing surveillance of their cellphone network. The pagers were ordered from a Taiwanese manufacturer, Gold Apollo, and were reportedly tampered with before reaching Lebanon.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. Neighbouring countries include the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.
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Mossad, short for HaMossad leModiʿin uleTafkidim Meyuḥadim, is the national intelligence agency of Israel. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman and Shin Bet.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.