CNN: Israel behind "Caller ID Bombing Plot," 1,000 casualties in Lebanon, sourced from Taiwan?

A series of pager explosions in Lebanon has resulted in significant casualties. Hezbollah has accused Israel of being the mastermind behind the attacks and vowed to retaliate. This incident has not only exposed security vulnerabilities within Hezbollah but also sparked a new wave of tension in the Middle East region.

Escalation of Conflict between Israel and Hezbollah

According to CNN, Hezbollah has vowed to respond to the deadly attacks launched by Israel. The attacks occurred on Tuesday when pagers carried by members closely linked to Iran's Hezbollah exploded almost simultaneously, causing significant casualties within Lebanon. According to Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad, at least 9 people, including a child, have died, with around 2800 people injured, and over 170 in critical condition.

This rare attack comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This event also reveals the vulnerability of Hezbollah's communication network, as their commanders have previously been targeted for assassination. Following the explosions, Lebanon and Hezbollah quickly accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, with Iran condemning it as an "Israeli terrorist act."

How did the pager explosions occur? Manufacturer from Taiwan?

According to CNN, the explosions were part of a joint operation planned by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and military. While the Israeli military declined to comment on the matter, The New York Times reported that Israel planted explosives in a batch of pagers from Taiwan and set up remote detonation switches. These pagers were imported by a European distributor and eventually made their way into Hezbollah's hands.

However, the Taiwanese manufacturer has also clarified that they only authorized European production and were not manufactured in Taiwan, but reports have emerged that the government has intervened in the investigation. On the other hand, there are also suggestions of deliberate psychological warfare to link the pagers to Taiwan.

Terror Scene: Pagers Exploding via Messages

Videos circulating on social media show explosions happening across various locations in Lebanon. Some surveillance footage captured the moment of the explosions, with one man shopping for fruits in a supermarket, his bag suddenly exploding, causing him to fall in agony. In other videos, many wounded individuals, including at least one child, are seen with blood covering their faces and hands, depicting a gruesome scene.

The widespread impact of these consecutive explosions has been confirmed by Lebanon's Interior Ministry, with many areas, especially Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, suffering varying degrees of damage. According to The New York Times, Israel implanted explosive devices next to the batteries of these pagers and triggered remote detonation through messages.

Strong Reaction from Hezbollah: Enemies Must Be Punished

Hezbollah issued a statement on Tuesday night, stating that "this criminal and vile enemy will be justly punished," and vowed to continue striking Israel, emphasizing that "this criminal enemy awaits severe retribution." The organization also confirmed on its Telegram channel that "staff" affiliated with Hezbollah's institutions were severely affected by the explosions.

Hezbollah's Low-Tech Strategy Still Penetrated

Known for its secretive operations, Hezbollah has historically refrained from using high-tech equipment to prevent Israeli and American espionage. However, the pager explosion incident reveals that the organization's low-tech communication network remains vulnerable to infiltration. Many areas in Lebanon, including Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut, became the epicenter of these explosions.

Condemnation from the Lebanese Government

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati strongly condemned the attack during Tuesday's cabinet meeting, calling it "a serious violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and a textbook crime." Following the explosion, the Israeli military issued a statement urging the public to remain vigilant and emphasized that any policy changes would be promptly communicated.

Expert Analysis: Complex Realities

Former US National Security Agency NSA intelligence analyst David Kennedy stated that the scale of the explosion was too significant to be merely triggered by remote hacking of batteries, suggesting that Israel likely infiltrated personnel to plant explosives in the pagers. He emphasized that this operation demonstrates a high level of intelligence capability requiring coordination across various intelligence methods.

The explosion has raised concerns in the international community. Airlines like Air France and Lufthansa have suspended flights to Tel Aviv, diverting them to Beirut on Thursday, in response to potential escalation. The US has stated that it was not involved in the pager explosion incident and had no prior intelligence regarding it.