Israel Accused of Sophisticated Device Attack Targeting Hezbollah, Killing 37

Lebanese officials have accused Israel of carrying out a covert operation against Hezbollah, targeting thousands of members with explosives concealed inside pagers and walkie-talkies. The devices, reportedly weaponized with advanced technology, detonated on September 17, killing at least 37 people, including children, and injuring nearly 3,000 civilians and Hezbollah members.

According to two high-ranking Lebanese security officials, the explosives were hidden inside the batteries of the pagers, making them nearly impossible to detect. Controlled explosions of several compromised pagers demonstrated the potential scale of destruction, though the pagers involved in the test had been switched off at the time of the attack. The officials revealed that the explosive material had been “laced” into the lithium battery, effectively turning the communication tools into deadly devices.

The attack blindsided Hezbollah, which had opted for analog technologies like pagers and walkie-talkies to avoid Israeli surveillance. Investigations into how the pagers were infiltrated continue, with Lebanese authorities working to trace the origins of the devices. The compromised pagers were identified as Gold Apollo AR-924 models, manufactured by a Taiwanese firm, while the walkie-talkies were ICOM IC-V82, a Japanese make. Both companies have distanced themselves from the devices used in the attack.

Lebanese authorities believe the devices were tampered with by foreign entities before entering the country. A letter sent to the UN Security Council last week claimed Israel was responsible for detonating the pagers by sending electronic messages to them simultaneously. Israel has not commented on the attack, but Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tacitly acknowledged the operation, praising the work of Mossad and the Israeli military in achieving “excellent results.”

Lebanese investigations have now expanded internationally, focusing on the supply chain for the Gold Apollo pagers. Taiwanese prosecutors have questioned the founder of the company, while Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Norwegian authorities are also probing links to the attack. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed retaliation, stating the group is conducting its own internal investigation.

UN officials condemned the attack, warning that the use of communication tools as weapons signals a dangerous escalation in warfare. Iran’s delegate to the UN accused Israel of attempting to kill 5,000 civilians, calling the attack a violation of international law.