Mobile or Laptop, what next? Mossad's explosive operations trigger fear in Lebanon

BEIRUT: A series of explosions orchestrated by the Israeli spy agency Mossad, which turned Hezbollah's communication devices into bombs, has struck terror across Lebanon. The fear of an impending war has escalated in West Asia, following the Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon just yesterday. What is being described as a wave of "Pager Blasts" may be the harbinger of a larger conflict in Lebanon.

Thousands of electronic devices, including pagers, walkie-talkies, solar panel batteries and even car batteries, exploded in a coordinated operation. This unprecedented attack has sparked widespread fear that Mossad’s methods could be replicated in any electronic device, from laptops to mobile phones. Citizens are now wary of using their everyday devices and many are afraid to even touch their phones. Even refrigerators are considered unsafe.

In response, the Lebanese army has begun dismantling communication equipment, including suspicious pagers, in a bid to prevent further destruction.

Israel’s strategic operation not only aimed to physically harm Hezbollah operatives but also to cripple the group psychologically and technologically. However, civilians were not spared in the wave of explosions. Many of their pagers also detonated, resulting in chaos as explosions occurred in homes, hospitals and shops. Vehicles caught fire as batteries exploded, sending thousands of civilians into hospitals, which were overwhelmed by the sheer number of casualties.

With an estimated 100,000 fighters and a stockpile of 150,000 guided missiles and rockets, Hezbollah represents a significant threat to Israel. Israel’s recent bombings target not only Hezbollah’s fighters but also its supply and communication chains, with devices ranging from pagers to solar panels being destroyed.

Timeline of Attacks

Tuesday

Devices targeted: Pagers

Deaths: 12

Injuries: 2,800

Wednesday

Devices targeted: Walkie-talkies, solar panels, fingerprint devices

Deaths: 25

Injuries: 608

One of the devices that exploded was the IC-V82 model walkie-talkie produced by the Japanese company Icom, which discontinued production of this model over a decade ago. Speculation is rife that the exploded devices might have been counterfeit versions.

Iranian Ambassador Injured

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among the injured, losing an eye in a pager explosion. Several Hezbollah members' children and relatives were killed in the attacks and 14 more were injured in a similar explosion in Syria