In News, Pager Attack
✔ The Hindu : A series of explosions Pagers Attack in Lebanon .killing at least nine people and injuring thousands, including the Iranian envoy to Beirut. The explosions were
caused by pagers used by the Hezbollah group. The next day, walkie-talkies
detonated in a similar fashion, killing around 20 more people and injuring over 450.
What are Pagers?
✔ Pagers (or beepers) are communication devices that predate mobile phones.
✔ They operate through radio signals transmitted from towers, and depending on
the model, they can either be one-way or two-way communication systems.
✔ Functionality.
- One-way pagers: Receive messages but cannot send replies.
- Two-way pagers: Can send and receive messages but with limited functionality.
✔ Advantages
More reliable in areas with poor cell coverage, and energy-efficient.
Hezbollah was using it because they believed it to be less vulnerable to Israeli
surveillance compared to modern smartphones.
How are Pagers useful in Covert Operations?
✔ Low-tech: Harder to track, intercept, or hack than smartphones.
✔ No GPS: Less susceptible to high-tech surveillance and location tracking.
✔ Radio Frequencies: Less prone to interception compared to cellular networks.
✔ Security: Their simplicity makes it difficult for intelligence agencies to monitor or manipulate them.
✔ Explosive Activation: Can be modified to include circuits for remote detonation,
which was likely used in this attack.
How was the Attack planned and executed?
✔ Pagers and Walkie-Talkies: Reportedly rigged with explosives (likely PETN).
✔ Supply Chain Manipulation:
- Israel’s Involvement: Israel is suspected to have set up a front company to sell pagers to Hezbollah.
- Manufacturing: Pagers were allegedly manufactured by a European firm but controlled by Israel.
- Modifications: Israeli engineers likely modified the devices before delivering them to Hezbollah.
- Detonation: Pagers and walkie-talkies were set to explode simultaneously when triggered by a specific signal.
