Explosions from Hezbollah’s communication devices have left over 3,000 people injured and at least three dead across Lebanon, marking what is believed to be Israel’s largest targeted electronical operation against the group. The attacks, which began on Tuesday, involved the remote detonation of pagers used by Hezbollah operatives, with further walkie-talkie explosions reported on Wednesday.
Hezbollah officials confirmed that nearly 500 of those injured have lost their sight, while nine individuals were killed during the initial blasts. The attacks were concentrated in Hezbollah strongholds such as the Bekaa Valley and the Dahiya district of southern Beirut. Among the wounded was Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, who sustained serious eye injuries, according to reports.
A Lebanese security official stated that the explosions first occurred on Tuesday, when Hezbollah’s imported pagers were detonated, followed by further explosions involving walkie-talkies on Wednesday. “Some homes and vehicles caught fire following the blasts,” the official added. The Health Ministry confirmed that most injuries were to the victims’ faces and hands, with several individuals suffering amputations.
According to Lebanese media, the devices that exploded were identified as ICOM brand walkie-talkies, both receivers and transmitters. In response, authorities issued warnings for all residents using lithium battery-powered communication devices to shut them down immediately to prevent further incidents. Social media posts showed images of burned appliances, scorched scooters, and damaged home security systems.
Sky News Arabia reported that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had infiltrated Hezbollah’s communication systems, embedding explosive material such as pentrite in the batteries of the devices. The explosives were detonated remotely, leading to mass casualties across Hezbollah’s ranks.
Hezbollah has vowed retaliation, denouncing the explosions as “criminal aggression” by Israel. Lebanon’s Minister of Health, Firas Abeid, warned of further risks and urged citizens to remain cautious as investigations into the attacks continue.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Israel’s secretive cyber warfare unit, Unit 8200, has come under the spotlight following the attack.
Unit 8200, Israel’s largest military unit, is involved in cyber intelligence and technological strikes, drawing comparisons to the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The unit’s operations are mostly classified, but it has been linked to several high-profile incidents, including the Stuxnet virus that disabled Iranian nuclear centrifuges between 2005 and 2010, and a 2017 cyberattack on Lebanon’s telecom company Ogero.
Reuters highlighted that personnel from Unit 8200 are usually young recruits selected from competitive high school programs. Many later pursue careers in Israel’s high-tech and cybersecurity sectors, with the unit fostering a startup-like culture to encourage creativity. The unit’s reputation took a hit after the 7 October attack on Israel, and its commander recently announced his resignation.
