### Mossad's Covert Operation: Exploding Pagers Devastate Hezbollah

In a series of violent explosions, thousands of electronic devices detonated across Lebanon last month, resulting in the deaths of dozens and injuries to thousands. The blasts primarily targeted pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

According to a new report by The Washington Post, these pagers had an especially sinister feature: a two-step de-encryption procedure. This design meant users would likely hold the devices with both hands when decrypting messages, making them especially vulnerable to the explosions. An unnamed official highlighted that the specific activation method would "wound both their hands" and render them "incapable to fight."

While Israel has not officially confirmed its involvement, the operation is widely attributed to its intelligence service, Mossad. The Post reported that Mossad could remotely trigger the explosions but also had integrated a procedure that could detonate the devices while users were attempting to read encrypted messages. Reports indicate that as many as 3,000 Hezbollah members were either injured or killed by these explosions.

Hezbollah, in an effort to sidestep Israeli intelligence capabilities, had shifted from using cellphones to low-tech pagers just months before the detonations took place. Sources familiar with Hezbollah told Reuters in July that cellphones were banned from the battlefield, a move aimed at evading Israeli surveillance.

According to former spies who spoke with Business Insider, the operation exemplified a meticulously planned and executed covert operation. Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer, described the campaign as "a very carefully, very thoroughly, well-calculated, meticulously tailored process."

In response to these events, Emirates airline has prohibited passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on flights. The carrier stated: "All passengers traveling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage." Additionally, Emirates has canceled all flights to and from Beirut until after October 15.

The explosions come amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been exchanging strikes since last October following attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7. In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its attacks on senior Hezbollah figures. Just last week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they had killed Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s leader of 32 years, in a Beirut airstrike. Nasrallah's death triggered a substantial retaliatory missile strike from Iran and has fueled fears of an escalating conflict in the region.