In a startling revelation, Lebanese security sources have claimed that Israel’s Mossad spy agency carried out a sophisticated covert operation against Hezbollah by planting explosives in thousands of pagers ordered by the militant group. The operation reportedly resulted in multiple explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday, leaving nine dead and thousands injured, according to Lebanon’s Health Minister Firas Abiad.
The Lebanese security source, who spoke to Reuters, stated that Hezbollah had ordered approximately 5,000 pagers, which were imported into Lebanon in the spring. The source alleges that the pagers were modified “at the production level” by Israeli intelligence, with up to 3 grams of hidden explosives inside each unit. These devices, which were reportedly undetected by Hezbollah for months, detonated on Tuesday.
The explosions resulted in significant casualties, with 200 out of the 2,750 injured reported to be in critical condition. This incident has raised serious questions about international security tactics and the implications of covert operations in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
However, Taiwan’s economy ministry, which oversees Gold Apollo, the company that exports pagers primarily to Europe and the United States, has cast doubt on the claims. In a statement, the ministry said there was “no record of direct export to Lebanon” and denied any potential for the pagers to explode as described by the media. They further suggested that if the pagers used in the attack were Gold Apollo’s products, they were likely modified after export.
In response, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its operations and support for Gaza, while also issuing a statement promising “harsh punishment” for Israel, which it referred to as the “criminal enemy.
If confirmed, this alleged covert operation by Mossad would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. It also raises questions about the increasing vulnerability of sophisticated technologies used by militant groups and the broader challenges of detecting such covert modifications.
