‘Classic Sabotage Operation’: How Hezbollah Pagers Were Turned Into Deadly Weapons In Mysterious Hit Job

Explosions targeting thousands of handheld pagers used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group for communication are shrouded in mystery, igniting questions about how the explosives were planted in this bold and coordinated attack blamed on Israeli spy agency Mossad.

The blasts that killed 12 and wounded over 3,000 have made headlines in international media, sparking widespread speculation regarding the methods used to carry out this unprecedented attack. Analysts cited by the Times Of Israel suggested that the operation reflects a sophisticated infiltration of Hezbollah’s supply chain. Yet, there are many unanswered questions, while analysts have pieced together what they say could be the probable modus operandi.

Supply Chain Infiltrated

Experts assert that the simultaneous explosions of the pagers indicate a highly planned and executed operation. Reports indicate that the pagers, part of a new shipment acquired by Hezbollah, were tampered with before reaching the group, allowing for remote detonation. “This reeks of a planned IED event,” said Jerry Back, a fire investigation expert. He told The New York Post that the nature of the blasts suggests explosives were deliberately integrated into the devices.

Reports indicate that Mossad may have intercepted the shipment, planting explosives during transit. A source close to Hezbollah stated that the pagers involved were recently imported, and an investigation is underway to determine how the explosive charges were activated.

Types of Explosives Used

According to multiple reports, the explosives used in the pagers were identified as Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), a potent plastic explosive commonly utilized in military applications. Mossad reportedly placed a small amount—less than 20 grams—of PETN on the batteries of the pagers, which could be detonated by raising the battery temperature remotely. “This operation demonstrates a significant intelligence achievement for Israel, suggesting that they have penetrated Hezbollah’s logistics and supply chains,” said Jon Alterman, director of the Center for Strategic Studies’ Middle East programme.

How Batteries Overheated

Witnesses reported that some Hezbollah members felt their pagers heating up before the explosions, prompting them to dispose of the devices. This raises questions about the mechanisms behind the detonation, as the odds of lithium batteries spontaneously exploding are exceedingly low.

Adding to the mystery was Taiwanese company Gold Apollo’s denial that it had produced the pagers used by Hezbollah members. Initially, it was reported that the devices by Gold Apollo were rigged and packed with explosives. “They are not our products from beginning to end. How can we produce products that are not ours?” company head Hsu Chin-kuang told reporters in Taipei after the NYT reported that his company’s pagers were involved in the blasts.

Mystery Behind The Attack

This denial leaves unclear which specific devices were used and how they were modified. And the specific details surrounding the infiltration remain unclear, including at which point the devices were rigged in their journey from the factory to Hezbollah members. “This was a classic sabotage operation,” said former CIA analyst Mike Dimino in a post on X, highlighting the complexity of such a task, which could take months or years to plan. Analysts believe that Israel’s ability to execute this operation may not only reflect advanced technical capabilities but also an in-depth understanding of Hezbollah’s internal communications practices.

Hezbollah Retaliation

After Tuesday’s attack, Iranian proxy Hezbollah was reeling from the violence, which left fighters and others bloodied, hospitalised, or dead. In Tuesday’s attack, Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani lost one eye and his other was seriously wounded when a pager he was carrying exploded yesterday. Amani’s injuries are more serious than initially reported, and he would be taken to Tehran for treatment. Son of Hezbollah parliament member Ali Ammar was also among the deceased.

The Iran-backed outfit has promised to retaliate against Israel, whose military declined to comment on the blasts. Hezbollah said in a statement that “the resistance will continue today, like any other day, its operations to support Gaza, its people and its resistance which is a separate path from the harsh punishment that the criminal enemy should await in response to Tuesday’s massacre”. One Hezbollah official said the detonation was the group’s “biggest security breach” since the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hezbollah ally Hamas erupted on Oct. 7.

(With agency inputs)