Netanyahu Confirms Israel’s Role in Deadly Pager Attacks in Lebanon and Syria
In a recent cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel was behind the September pager attacks in Lebanon and Syria that led to hundreds of casualties, Israeli media reported on Sunday. The operation targeted thousands of pagers and wireless devices, resulting in widespread injuries and fatalities.
Netanyahu's confirmation came despite earlier reports that top officials within the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and intelligence agencies, including recently dismissed Security Minister Yoav Gallant, had opposed the operation. "The pager operation and the elimination attempt on [Hezbollah leader] Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah proceeded despite resistance from senior figures in the defense establishment and their political overseers," Netanyahu stated, signaling a potential rift between his administration and military leaders over the attack.
The Israeli government had previously refrained from publicly claiming responsibility for the attacks, which drew condemnation from the Lebanese government and international officials. A New York Times report from September, citing U.S. and other sources, alleged that Israel had implanted explosive materials in a batch of Taiwanese-made pagers imported to Lebanon, amplifying suspicions of Israeli involvement.
Tampered Pagers Linked to Deadly Lebanon Blasts Allegedly Shipped to Hezbollah by Taiwan’s Gold Apollo
According to recent reports, pagers ordered by Hezbollah from Taiwan’s Gold Apollo company were tampered with before arriving in Lebanon, resulting in deadly explosions that injured and killed hundreds. Most of the pagers were AR924 models, along with three other models from the same manufacturer, according to the New York Times.
Gold Apollo CEO Hsu Chin-Kuang clarified that the pagers were produced under the design of a European partner, distancing Taiwan from direct involvement. “The pagers were both developed and produced abroad, so they have nothing to do with Taiwan,” Hsu said, as reported by Taiwanese news outlet CTWANT. He explained that the European company, which initially only distributed Gold Apollo products, later started independently designing the pagers in question.
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The devices were allegedly rigged with small explosive charges weighing under 60 grams, installed near the battery along with an embedded switch for remote detonation, according to two officials. The tampered pagers were programmed to beep for several seconds before detonating, causing mass casualties.
Reports indicate that Hezbollah ordered over 3,000 of these pagers, which were distributed to resistance members across Lebanon. However, officials have not confirmed when the pagers were ordered or arrived in the country.
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