A detailed investigation by Reuters has uncovered the full scope of the Hezbollah pager explosions that took place in Lebanon on 17 and 18 September.

 

The operation, which started in February 2024, has been described as one of the most significant security breaches Hezbollah has faced in recent years, leaving 39 dead and over 3,400 injured.

 

The operation centered on seemingly innocuous devices—pagers—procured by Hezbollah through what appeared to be a legitimate purchase.

 

However, the pagers had been tampered with by the “Israeli” intelligence agency Mossad.

 

Each device had been rigged with plastic explosives, weighing 6 grams, positioned near the rechargeable battery to maximize impact.

 

The battery’s chemical composition enhanced the blast, equivalent to 40 grams of explosive power. The explosive and battery were enclosed in a plastic case, making detection difficult even during X-ray security checks at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport.

 

According to the investigation, Mossad created an elaborate cover story for the batteries used in the operation, establishing an online history for the specific model, LIBT783, which was presented as a standard, commercially available rechargeable battery.

 

This deception helped Mossad slip the modified pagers through supply chains. The Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo was unknowingly involved, with the pager model AR-924 playing a central role in the operation.

 

Hezbollah became suspicious when the pagers' batteries drained faster than expected, but by then it was too late.

 

The operation was triggered on September 17, 2024, through a text message that activated the explosive-laden pagers, causing devastation among Hezbollah members and their civilian surroundings.

 

The use of explosive devices in this way echoes previous Mossad tactics, such as assassinations through modified phones, as in the case of Yahya Ayyash in 1996​.