- Israel’s Cyber Attack: Israel launched an unprecedented cyber-attack on Hezbollah using pagers and walkie-talkies, resulting in the deaths of dozens and injuries to thousands, with significant psychological and physical impacts on Hezbollah fighters.
- Theories Behind the Attack: Two primary theories explain how the attack was carried out: explosive materials hidden in the devices or the use of specialized technology to heat lithium-ion batteries, triggering explosions remotely.
- Psychological Impact: The attack shattered Hezbollah’s trust in its communication devices, weakening its ability to coordinate operations. The psychological blow, coupled with physical injuries to its fighters, significantly diminished Hezbollah’s combat effectiveness.
West Asia has been in the grip of direct and indirect confrontation between Israel and the “Axis of Resistance” (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi, and Iran) over the last year. After the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, researchers, diplomats, and politicians speculated about possible retaliation from Iran. Hezbollah fired 55 rockets, but Israel suffered very little damage. However, fears of an escalating conflict were justified. Given the threat posed by Hezbollah, many anticipated a direct attack by Israel on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. According to international relations experts, Israel had two options: a ground invasion or an air strike. But Israel’s “pager and walkie-talkie attack” in Lebanon on September 17 and 18 shocked not only Hezbollah but the entire world. People were bewildered by the notion that a small pager and walkie-talkie could be weaponized.
Although Israel has not officially acknowledged the incident, The Washington Post reported that Israel was behind the attack. Twelve people were killed, and around 3,000 were injured in the pager explosion. In the walkie-talkie blast, 20 people were killed, and over 450 were injured. Most of the injured were Hezbollah fighters, many of whom lost their eyes and fingers—crucial for combat. On the night of September 20, Israel also carried out an airstrike in Beirut, killing Ibrahim Akil, a top Hezbollah commander, along with six others. Fifty-nine others were injured in this attack. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging rocket fire. Hezbollah’s capabilities have been significantly weakened due to Israel’s continued assaults.
Chinese war strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu said in The Art of War that to win a war, one must always outwit the enemy by using deception to create confusion and psychological fear. Moreover, winning a war without wasting resources demonstrates superior leadership. Hezbollah fighters could not have imagined that Israel would weaponize the pagers they use for daily communication, causing physical harm. This unprecedented attack has once again showcased Israel’s cyber warfare capabilities and its efficient strategy, consistent with Sun Tzu’s philosophy.
Theories Behind How They Did It
The simultaneous pager explosions raised many questions. How did Israel manage to launch such a significant attack without firing a single bullet? There are two main theories. The first involves a Taiwanese company named Gold Apollo, whose name appeared on the exploded AP924 model pagers. The company’s founder, Hsu Ching-Kuang, told NCB reporters that his company had signed a contract with a Hungarian firm, BAC, to manufacture the devices under its name. However, BAC’s CEO, Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, denied producing pagers, claiming her company was only an intermediary.
Interestingly, the Hungarian government denied the existence of any pager manufacturing facility in the country. Hezbollah purchased 5,000 pagers five months ago, but there is no documentation of the source or the vendor. Hezbollah switched to pagers out of fear that Israel might track their mobile phones. Some speculate that this fear may have been deliberately created by Israel/Mossad to manipulate Hezbollah into using pagers. Mossad and Israel’s Cyber Warfare Unit 8200 likely planted explosive materials in the pagers and delivered them to Hezbollah, anticipating the threat they posed. The lack of records, the timing of the purchase, and the denials from involved companies suggest a well-planned operation by Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, which is known for such techniques.
The second theory suggests that Israel has developed a technology that heats lithium-ion batteries used in these devices, triggering an explosion through a specialized signal or wave. This theory cannot be ruled out, given Mossad’s history of cyber operations. In the 1960s, Israeli agent Eli Cohen infiltrated Syria and used radio signals to transmit intelligence. If Israel has indeed developed this technology to heat and explode lithium-ion batteries, it represents a dangerous 21st-century discovery, with the potential to alter warfare as nuclear weapons did in the mid-20th century.
What Israel Gained, What Hezbollah Lost
Regardless of how the attack was carried out, one thing is clear: Israel’s cyber warfare capabilities are far more advanced than any other nation’s. Israel’s ability to conduct sudden, pre-emptive strikes, referred to as “escalation dominance” by Professor John Mearsheimer, is unmatched. This unprecedented intelligence operation, with its precision, impact, secrecy, and audacity, stands out in military history. Israel managed to severely damage Hezbollah without depleting its resources, demonstrating careful planning and awareness.
In one operation, Hezbollah suffered significant losses, with many of its fighters sustaining debilitating injuries, including the loss of fingers and eyes, which are vital for combat. The attack also exposed Hezbollah’s network not only in Lebanon but across West Asia, where affiliated fighters used the same devices.
War is not just a physical contest but a psychological one. The attack has impacted Hezbollah psychologically, leading to a breakdown in trust in its equipment and creating fear of communication among its fighters. This disruption may hinder their coordination, especially during this critical time of confrontation. Moreover, the timing of the attack, just as tensions between northern Israel and southern Lebanon were rising, serves as a powerful warning to Hezbollah’s allies, including Iran and the Houthis.
(Anmol Kumar holds a postgraduate degree in Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University. His area of interest lies in the geopolitics of West Asia, International theories and Terrorism and counter-terrorism.)
Aayush Pal 
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra