The Batteries Inside the Weaponized Pagers in Lebanon: Unveiling an Israeli Plot Against Hezbollah

In early 2024, Lebanon saw a series of explosive attacks that shook the region and brought the complex tensions between Israel and Hezbollah back into focus. These attacks, triggered by weaponized pagers, revealed a covert Israeli operation that aimed to decimate Hezbollah leadership. The pagers, distributed as communication devices, held hidden explosives designed to evade detection and cause mass casualties.

This article delves into the intricate details of the pagers’ design, the operation behind their deployment, and the impact they had on Hezbollah, Lebanon, and the broader Middle East.

The Covert Operation: Setting the Stage for Attack

What Were the Weaponized Pagers?

The weaponized pagers sent to Hezbollah members were ordinary-looking communication devices. However, these devices were rigged with concealed explosives. Israeli intelligence, specifically Mossad, spearheaded the operation, targeting key Hezbollah figures and attempting to weaken the organization from within.

These pagers were made to look inconspicuous, masking their true destructive power. The most crucial part of the pager was its battery, which concealed the explosive material.

How Did They Bypass Detection?

The genius behind the pagers was not just the explosives but also the measures taken to ensure they remained undetected. Lebanese officials noted that the batteries inside the pagers passed through airport scanners and standard security checks without raising suspicion. This was achieved through meticulous design, as the explosive material did not contain metal, which is typically picked up by X-ray machines.

The Deadly Batteries: Internals Revealed

The core of the pager’s lethality lay in its battery pack. Two lithium-ion cells sandwiched a thin sheet of plastic explosive known as PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate). This explosive, hidden between the battery cells, was accompanied by a highly flammable strip that acted as a detonator.

Unlike traditional explosives, the pager bomb did not rely on a metallic cylinder detonator, making it nearly invisible to common detection methods. The batteries appeared to function normally but had less power than expected, which Hezbollah initially overlooked as a minor flaw.

The Explosive Activation

Hezbollah members were handed the pagers just hours before the attack. Thousands of pagers simultaneously detonated in Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut on September 17, 2024. The devices beeped, signaling an incoming message, before exploding. The resulting blasts caused catastrophic injuries, with many victims losing limbs or suffering severe abdominal wounds.

In total, the attacks killed 39 people and injured more than 3,400, marking a significant blow to Hezbollah.

Deception at Every Level

Fake Online Stores and Cover Stories

One of the most fascinating aspects of this operation was the cover story created by Israeli agents to legitimize the weaponized pagers. The pagers were sold under a fake model name, AR-924, which was marketed as a product from a legitimate Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo.

To make the product seem credible, Israeli agents set up fake online stores and web pages that showcased the AR-924 pager and its battery. These pages were designed to withstand scrutiny from Hezbollah’s procurement teams, who conducted due diligence to verify the products they purchased. The extensive web of deception involved detailed product descriptions, photos, and even online discussions about the pager’s specifications.

The Role of Gold Apollo

Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company, became inadvertently entangled in the plot. According to its chairman, Hsu Ching-kuang, the company granted a license to distribute the AR-924 pager to a former employee, Teresa Wu, and her associate, who claimed to be working for a new venture. The real purpose of this venture, however, was to arm the pagers with explosive devices.

Hsu added photos of the pager to his company’s website, unaware that the devices were being used for lethal purposes. This helped give the pagers an air of legitimacy, which further deceived Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s Response

Hezbollah, realizing it had been duped, immediately launched an internal investigation. The group had shifted to pagers earlier in the year to avoid Israeli eavesdropping on their cell phone communications. The discovery that the pagers were weaponized revealed a major breach in their security systems.

As part of their investigation, Hezbollah examined how their procurement manager was persuaded to buy the AR-924 pagers. It turned out that the sales representative offering the devices kept lowering the price until Hezbollah’s officials finally accepted the offer. This tactic was part of Israel’s larger strategy to ensure the devices ended up in Hezbollah’s hands.

The Impact of the Attack

Casualties and Chaos

The September 17 attacks had a devastating impact on Hezbollah and Lebanon. Thousands of pagers exploded across Hezbollah-controlled areas, causing chaos and confusion. Hospitals were overwhelmed with injured people, many of whom suffered severe injuries due to their proximity to the exploding devices.

Among the victims were key Hezbollah figures, although the organization did not disclose the full extent of the leadership losses. The attacks not only caused physical damage but also struck a psychological blow to Hezbollah’s members and supporters.

Hezbollah’s Investigation and Retaliation

Hezbollah quickly realized the gravity of the security breach and launched an internal investigation to find out how the pagers were acquired and who within the organization might have been complicit. Their efforts were hampered when Nabil Kaouk, the senior official leading the investigation, was killed in an Israeli airstrike just days after the attack.

In retaliation, Hezbollah ramped up its military activity against Israel, leading to a broader conflict in the region. Since October 2023, Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in direct military confrontations, with Hezbollah launching rockets at Israeli positions and Israel conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

The Weak Link: A Flawed Battery and Its Discovery

Battery Issues Raise Suspicions

Hezbollah first noticed something unusual about the pagers when the batteries drained faster than expected. However, this issue did not raise immediate red flags. It was only after the attacks that Hezbollah discovered the battery’s hidden explosive components. The battery’s internal structure, consisting of two cells sandwiching a layer of PETN, was the key to its destructive power.

The Challenge of Creating a Plausible Backstory

One of the operation’s weaknesses was the nonexistence of the battery and pager model on the market. The LI-BT783 battery, like the AR-924 pager, was not a commercially available product. To address this, Israeli agents went to great lengths to create fake online stores, pages, and product descriptions that could deceive anyone conducting a background check.

The effort to build a credible cover story was a central part of the plot’s success, but it also highlighted the complexity and risk involved in such an operation.

The Fallout: Regional Tensions Escalate

The pager attack significantly heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Lebanon condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty, and Hezbollah leaders vowed revenge. The conflict between the two parties escalated into a full-scale war, with ground invasions and airstrikes becoming the new norm in southern Lebanon.

International actors, including the United States, were caught off-guard by the operation and its consequences. As the conflict continues, the pager attacks stand as a stark reminder of the ongoing volatility in the Middle East.

Conclusion

The weaponized pager plot was a highly sophisticated operation that revealed the extent to which modern espionage and technology can be weaponized. The meticulous planning, covert online deception, and deadly execution resulted in a significant blow to Hezbollah and deepened the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. The ramifications of this operation continue to unfold as the Middle East teeters on the brink of further conflict.

FAQs

1. What was the purpose of the weaponized pagers?
The pagers were designed to deliver concealed explosives to Hezbollah members, targeting them during regular communication.

2. How did the explosives evade detection?
The explosives were hidden within the pager’s battery pack and did not contain any metal, making them invisible to standard X-ray machines.

3. Who was behind the pager attacks?
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was responsible for orchestrating the operation, although Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility.

4. How did Hezbollah respond to the attacks?
Hezbollah launched an internal investigation and began military retaliation against Israel, leading to escalated conflict.

5. What was the role of Gold Apollo in the plot?
Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company, was unknowingly used as part of the cover story for the fake pager model and battery.