Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency gained access to pagers intended for Hezbollah and planted PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) in them, which detonated when the batteries were heated, Sky News Arabia reports, citing sources.
According to Sky News Arabia sources, Israeli intelligence intercepted the devices before they were handed over to Hezbollah and rigged them with explosives. By equipping the pager’s batteries, the Mossad increased its temperature, leading to an explosion, the TV channel writes. A Hezbollah spokesman suggested that malware caused the devices to heat up.
The Associated Press also writes that the pagers were equipped with explosives before they arrived in Lebanon. According to Al Jazeera, each pager was equipped with no more than 20 grams of explosives; the devices were brought to Lebanon five months ago.
Pagers exploded en masse across Lebanon on September 17. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, 4,000 people were injured and 11 others died as a result.
Among the victims is the Iranian ambassador in Beirut. Mojtaba AmaniHe was hospitalised with a “non-serious injury”. Two other Iranian embassy employees were also wounded, Mehr news agency reported. According to Al Hadath, Hezbollah members who were in Damascus were injured when the pager exploded. Sources at the TV channel said the son of a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament was killed. Ali Ammara.
Hezbollah blamed Israel for what happened and promised “a fair response to what was not expected.” Israeli authorities have not officially commented on the incident. Axios, citing a source, wrote that the operation was approved at a recent meeting of Israeli leaders.
