September 18th 2024.
Pagers were once a popular form of communication in the 1980s and '90s, but in recent years, they have become nearly obsolete. However, in Lebanon, these devices have resurfaced as a means of communication for the militant group, Hezbollah. This has led to a series of deadly explosions that have caused chaos and confusion in Beirut.
According to sources, the explosions were specifically targeting members of Hezbollah who were using pagers to communicate with one another. These explosions occurred in public places such as cafes, restaurants, and shopping centers, causing fatalities and injuries. The use of pagers by Hezbollah was a strategic move, as these devices are much harder to trace than mobile phones.
In a speech earlier this year, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, urged members and their families to get rid of their mobile phones for the sake of security. He referred to them as "collaborators" and even encouraged burying them or locking them away in iron chests. This highlights the group's paranoia and fear of being tracked by Israeli forces.
Pagers have certain advantages when it comes to privacy. They are one-way receivers, meaning they do not send information back to the base station. They also rely on radio signals rather than cellular towers, making them almost impossible to locate. Some retailers even sell encrypted pagers, further enhancing their privacy and security.
The pagers used in the attacks were Gold Apollo models, but there are also newer brands being used by Hezbollah, according to a group official. These devices are not just for receiving messages, as they can also display alphanumeric messages and even voice messages. They are popular among professions such as doctors and nurses in hospitals, but their use has declined with the rise of mobile phones.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, leading analysts to speculate that there may have been tampering in the supply chain of these devices. A former British Army munitions expert believes that the pagers may have been packed with military-grade explosives, causing the deadly blasts. The investigation into these attacks is ongoing, and the truth behind them remains to be seen.
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