Following Israel's disruption of Hezbollah fighters' pagers and walkie-talkies, Iran is in a state of alarm. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have advised all members to refrain from using any communication devices.
Furthermore, Iran has begun inspecting all electronic devices used by IRGC personnel to prevent similar attacks. Iranian security officials informed Reuters that most devices are either homemade or imported from Russia and China.
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Source: aajtak
All IRGC soldiers are required to surrender their gadgets for thorough inspection, especially officers of higher ranks and mid-level officials. This measure aims to prevent Israeli agents from infiltrating Iranian troops as they did with Hezbollah in Lebanon-Syria.
On September 17, Pagers Exploded Across Lebanon
On September 17, 2024, amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, Lebanon and its Hezbollah fighters were targeted in a novel attack. Thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah in several cities of Lebanon and Syria exploded, resulting in 12 deaths and over 4000 injuries. The next day, numerous walkie-talkies, doorbells, and dish connections also detonated.
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Source: aajtak
Why Was Hezbollah Using Outdated Pagers?
It is widely known that Israel possesses advanced capabilities to intercept, hack, and track modern communication systems like the internet, smartphones, and landlines. To evade surveillance, Hezbollah opted for pagers operating on old technology, which are less prone to hacking and tracking.
How Long Has Hezbollah Been Using Pagers?
Hezbollah's intelligence agency employs various counterintelligence tools, including electronic surveillance and intercept technology. Since 2011, Hezbollah has had the ability to analyze cellphone data. By the 1990s, its operatives could download unencrypted data.
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Source: aajtak
It is believed that with assistance from Russia and the FSB, Hezbollah developed its counter-intelligence system. In 2008, the group detected an Israeli bug in a fiber network near Mount Senin.
Pagers, being old technology, are known for their secure, low-data communication. Although there is no detailed timeline for their use, it is speculated that Hezbollah established these systems in the 1980s.
