- Mossad’s operation was not only a physical action but was a psychological blow intended to demoralize Hezbollah.
- The strike on Hezbollah can also be seen as a wake-up call for other countries on how critical it is to protect communication networks, especially those relating to defence.
- For India, it is a clear message that its defence system should be upgraded and safeguarded effectively. India should make necessary developments in cybersecurity and indigenous technology to prepare for modern threats of warfare.
On September 17, 2024, southern Lebanon witnessed a series of explosions that were unprecedented and catastrophic that left Hezbollah a prominent militant group in chaos. At first, the attack on the pagers seemed like just a few petty acts, but later on the next day it quickly escalated to a massive cyber operation that paralyzed the Hezbollah’s means of communication. At least 32 people including two children died, furthermore, thousands were injured due to explosions from pagers, radios and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives. This two-wave attack targeted the very core of Hezbollah and inflicted not just physical but also psychological and more importantly operational disarray among Hezbollah.
The First Wave: Exploding Pagers
Despite being a very organized militant group, Hezbollah had been seen to be in the habit of using primitive means of communication such as pagers. Such devices, which were no longer in common use elsewhere, were still viewed by Hezbollah as a relatively safe means of communication, believing they were safe from hacking. Unaware of the fact that their usage of those pagers had been under surveillance by Mossad for months.
It is speculated that Mossad through secret operations managed to place small explosive devices into the pagers of Hezbollah, which were said to be manufactured in Taiwan. On the morning of September 17, quite unexpectedly, Hezbollah members received an unusual signal from their pagers. As they picked up to check them, the pagers exploded. These blasts led to severe injuries, and about 3,000 people were impacted primarily in their chests and stomachs as most of the operatives were carrying the pagers in the pockets of their belts.
The Second Wave: Radios and Walkie-Talkies
The next day, on September 18, the second wave of the attack was aimed at the radios, the handheld transceivers, and all other communication equipment of Hezbollah. The attack through exploded walkie-talkies took the lives of almost 20 individuals and left more than 450 others injured as estimated by the Lebanese health ministry. Same as the pagers, these devices had been rigged to explode. When Hezbollah members attempted to use their radios or adjust frequencies, the devices detonated. These explosions augmented the previous casualties and destroyed the region, which was already in a state of disarray.
It was a dreadful psychological attack, the attack spread fear throughout Hezbollah. It not only undermined its operations but also generated a high level of fear among its members due to this new approach. The very tools they believed in to communicate had been transformed into instruments of destruction. The explosions caused panic throughout south Lebanon and the operatives did not know which device would explode next.
Mossad’s Strategy and Hezbollah’s Reaction
Importantly, Mossad’s operation was not only a physical action but was a psychological blow intended to demoralize Hezbollah. By transforming all the communication tools used by Hezbollah into deadly devices, Mossad proved that they can vitally penetrate and disarm Hezbollah without having any of their agents cross the border.
That has created a major crisis for Hezbollah. Many of its communication devices were demolished and the organisation is in the process of trying to have them replaced. The cost of replacing these tools, the loss of operatives and the breach of security, have put Hezbollah in a vulnerable position. Leaders are now pulling back all the remaining pagers, radios, and walkie-talkies in anticipation of more attacks. They are probably planning to wipe all these devices clean and replace them on a large scale.
This attack revealed the group’s weakness and humiliated it on a global level. Hezbollah, a group that boasted of its security and protection measures, has discovered that it cannot be sure of the reliability of most of these devices.
Lessons for India: The Need for Secure Communication Systems
The strike on Hezbollah can also be seen as a wake-up call for other countries, including India, on how critical it is to protect communication networks, especially those relating to defence. India has faced cyber threats from neighbours China and Pakistan, and with computers and electronics linked deep, similarly moded or accessible weak points can be prone to such an attack.
India’s military depends a lot on advanced systems; however, they still operate with outdated radios and communication networks, especially in the less accessible zones or hostile areas, which can be exploited. The Hezbollah experience shows India the necessity for upgrading the current old-era communication technologies and the development of a strong cybersecurity system.
The SAMBHAV Project
India has already taken steps to ensure the protection of its military communication. The Indian Army-led SAMBHAV project plans to introduce 35,000 upgraded and 5G-enabled phones with multi-layer security measures. These devices are intended to operate in public cellular networks but also remain secure at the same time. This is an important step towards the prevention of cyber attacks on the telecommunication infrastructure of India.
However, by using the Hezbollah attack as an example, it is possible to understand that even sophisticated gadgets can be a potential threat if left unprotected. To illustrate this, in the past, Pakistan used mobile apps such as Top Gun and Talking Frog to secretly install malware on Indian soldiers’ phones, This shows how vulnerable smartphones are if they are not protected well.
The Indian military also uses foreign communications equipment like Motorola (USA), Thales (France), and L3Harris (USA) for encrypted radios and tactical communication systems. Despite these systems being developed and secure, but still relying on foreign technology for military equipment is always a risk. Elbit Systems (Israel), also supplies communication devices to the Indian military, which shows India’s operational relationships with international partners.
The Urgency for Indigenous Solutions
The case in Lebanon has further emphasized the need for India to come up with indigenous, safe and proper means of communication. Dependence on foreign systems despite having some advantages in the short run could lead to certain risks for India. Initiatives such as the SAMBHAV developed with institutions such as IIT-Madras demonstrate that India is capable of independently designing comprehensive solutions. In future wars, electronic warfare and sophisticated cyberattacks are going to play a significant role, and India needs to prepare for it.
Conclusion
The Mossad’s attack on Hezbollah’s communication systems was a well-planned act that exposed the insecurity in outdated technology. While the world continues to observe the fighting in Lebanon, countries must take this as a lesson. For India, it is a clear message that its defence system should be upgraded and safeguarded effectively. India should make necessary developments in cybersecurity and indigenous technology to prepare for modern threats of warfare.
Palak Dogra 
Aayush Pal 
Sindhuri Sai