Tel Aviv’s State Terrorism: Pagers That Became Bombs.
In mid-September 2024, an unprecedented incident shook the security environment in Lebanon and the region; on September 17 and 18, thousands of pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah forces exploded simultaneously in various parts of Lebanon and even some parts of Syria.
These explosions, which were said to be the result of a complex planned operation, left dozens dead and thousands injured (according to the announced figures, 37 people were martyred and more than 3,400 were injured) and received widespread coverage in the regional and international media. Many of the victims were Hezbollah forces, but some civilians were also seen among the dead and injured, an issue that highlighted the human dimensions of the incident and raised serious concerns about “violations of the rights of civilians.”
Reports indicate that the operation was long in the planning stages, with communications devices tampered with during production or transportation. The timing and precision of the explosions suggest a high level of coordination and technology. The operation not only dealt a military blow to Hezbollah but also sent a psychological and political message.