Israel Cripples Iran-Backed Hezbollah in Spectacular Pager Explosion Operation, Experts Say

JERUSALEM – In a dramatic operation allegedly carried out by Israel’s Mossad, thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, marking a significant setback for the U.S.-designated terrorist group.

The attack, which reportedly killed nine people and wounded 2,500, has been described as one of the most severe security breaches Hezbollah has faced in recent years.

An ambulance carries wounded people whose handheld pager exploded in Beirut on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

According to a Reuters report, the Israeli intelligence agency planted explosives inside 5,000 pagers months before Tuesday’s coordinated detonations. The attack is seen as a massive blow to Hezbollah’s communication system, which had shifted from mobile phones to pagers to avoid Israeli interception.

Walid Phares, a leading U.S. expert on Lebanon and Hezbollah, described the incident as a significant hit to the group’s national security apparatus, especially those managing Hezbollah’s missile force. The Iranian-backed organization, which has over 150,000 missiles aimed at Israel, joined Hamas in its conflict with Israel following Hamas’ invasion on October 7. Since October 8, Hezbollah has launched over 7,500 missiles, rockets, and drones into Israel.

Hezbollah officials acknowledged the severity of the breach, calling it the “biggest security failure” since the Gaza conflict began. Phares noted that the operation has also impacted Hezbollah’s internal security and intelligence forces, though he warned that the group will likely recover in time.

An ambulance carries wounded people whose handheld pager exploded in Beirut on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Beyond the immediate damage, Phares emphasized the psychological impact on Hezbollah’s image within Lebanon. The breach could inspire opposition from Lebanese Sunnis, Druze, and Christians, encouraging mobilization against Hezbollah’s dominance in the country.

While Israel has yet to officially confirm its involvement, a senior U.S. official confirmed the country was behind the operation. Mossad is known for its global intelligence prowess, with recent reports linking the agency to the deaths of top Hezbollah and Hamas operatives.

A funeral ceremony is held for Yasir Nemir Karnish, the former bodyguard of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border in Beirut on July 10, 2024. Karnish’s relatives and Hezbollah sympathizers attended the ceremony. (Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Jonathan Conricus, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, hailed the operation as a tactical success but warned that its long-term strategic benefits remain uncertain. He suggested the attack could be part of a broader effort to avoid war through diplomacy, yet stressed the importance of further Israeli action against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah Radwan forces train in Southern Lebanon close to the Israeli border. (AP/Hassan Ammar)

As Israel faces security challenges from multiple fronts, experts like Nadav Eyal and IDF Reserve Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi views this operation as a significant demonstration of Israel’s intelligence capabilities. Avivi believes this marks the beginning of a shift in focus from Gaza to Lebanon, predicting an imminent war with Hezbollah and a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

Men walk past debris and a destroyed car after the top floors of an eight-story building were destroyed following an Israeli military strike in a Beirut suburb on July 30, 2024. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

An arch glorifying Hezbollah and baring pictures of its chief Hassan Nasrallah, right, and Iran’s spiritual leader Ali Khamenei decorated a street of Beirut’s southern suburb on January 16, 2011. (Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images)

For now, Hezbollah remains defiant, vowing to continue its operations in support of Gaza. But Israel’s alleged cyber strike has sent a clear message: its intelligence and military capabilities remain formidable, and Hezbollah’s dominance may not be as unshakable as it once seemed.

Sola Adeniji

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