Eight people were killed and over 2,000 injured when hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon exploded in homes, shops, and on the streets. The coordinated attack targeted people in Beirut, South Lebanon, and various towns in the Marje’youn district. Hospitals across the country were overwhelmed as devices exploded in the hands and bags of their carriers, causing injuries to faces and limbs, according to press reports.
Within minutes of the incident, a wave of false and misleading news swept across social media and local news groups on messaging apps. The multitude of theories and speculations, none of which came from experts or insiders, exacerbated the panic among civilians.
The details of the incident remain unclear, as no official explanatory statement has been issued. Based on SMEX’s analysis, three scenarios could explain what happened today.
- Tampered devices
It is possible that the exploded pagers were part of a shipment that had been tampered with during transit. For example, small explosive devices could have been planted in them and remotely activated or set to detonate via a timer.
- Overheated batteries
The pagers were not intercepted, but Israeli intelligence may have developed a way to exploit a vulnerability in the devices, potentially causing them to overheat and leading to battery explosions.
- Explosions activated through radio waves
The pagers that exploded might have been tampered with during shipping (a supply chain attack), and later activated through radio waves emitted from a ground station or an intelligence device (such as an Airborne Warning and Control System, AWACS) to detonate the devices.
How does a pager work?
A pager is a small wireless device used to receive short messages or alerts. It was widely used before mobile phones became common, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. Doctors, emergency responders, and business people used it for its reliability in receiving urgent notifications.
Pagers operate on two main elements:
- Transmission: Pagers work through radio signals. The service provider sends a signal (usually via a base station or satellite network) to the pager. This message could be numeric, alphanumeric (text), or audio.
- Alert: Upon receiving the message, the pager issues a sound alert, a vibration, or both, prompting the carrier to check the screen and read the incoming message.
Types of pagers
- Numeric Pager: Displays only numbers, usually phone numbers the user must call.
- Alphanumeric Pager: Displays both numbers and letters, allowing for the transmission of short text messages.
- Two-Way Pager: Allows users to both send and receive text messages.
Uses of pagers
- Medical field: Doctors and nurses rely on pagers to receive emergency notifications in hospitals because they can operate in areas where mobile phone signals are weak.
- Emergency services: Police, firefighters, and emergency responders use pagers to quickly exchange vital information.
- Various professions: Workers in IT, engineering, and maintenance use pagers to receive alerts when urgent actions are needed.
Why are pagers still used?
- Reliability: Pagers use radio signals that are better at penetrating areas with weak mobile coverage, ensuring message transmission in low-signal areas.
- Battery life: Pager batteries can last for weeks without needing a recharge, making them more practical than mobile phones, which require daily charging.
- Ease of use: Pagers are free from apps or other distractions, making them ideal for transmitting critical information without interference or interception from external parties.
SMEX recommends discarding any pagers currently being used in Lebanon.
Main photo by AFP.
