Why Pager Blasts In Lebanon Put The Global Electronics Supply Chain At Risk

Last September, thousands of electronic devices such as pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across multiple locations in Lebanon and Syria, primarily targeting Hezbollah members in Lebanon. These incidents resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. The United Nations, the European Union, and other entities issued statements condemning the attacks, urging all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalating regional tensions.

Al Jazeera quoted a Hezbollah official as saying that the pagers “exploded just seconds after receiving a suspected message from Hezbollah leadership.” Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported that the incident caused over 4,000 injuries and more than a dozen deaths. The UN Secretary-General called on all governments to comply with Security Council Resolution 1701, emphasizing that civilian equipment must not be weaponized and urging effective controls. Jeanine Antoinette Hennis-Plasschaert, the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, warned on social media that any actions escalating the situation could risk catastrophic consequences. Josep Borrell, the E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, condemned these attacks as jeopardizing Lebanon’s security and stability and increasing the risk of conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Lebanon, stating that France stands with the Lebanese people. Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who exposed the United States P.R.I.S.M. surveillance program, commented on social media that the operation was “indistinguishable from terrorism.”

Outside the Middle East, European media widely condemned Israel’s actions. Reuters reported that this incident has raised unprecedented doubts about the safety of U.S. electronic products. If the U.S. fails to prove their safety, it could lead to a significant decline in trust in American electronics. Reports indicate that diplomats from the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and Italy convened in Paris on September 19 to discuss the escalating tensions in the Middle East. On September 20, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting regarding the incident. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized Israel’s actions during a call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, describing them as “extremely dangerous” for the escalation of regional conflicts and assured Turkey’s continued efforts to curb “Israeli aggression.”

The large-scale attack in Lebanon using civilian devices, despite being carried out under the guise of “targeted elimination of terrorist leaders,” is undoubtedly a typical example of unconventional warfare and asymmetric attacks. It represents a severe violation of a nation’s sovereignty and security, setting a perilous precedent for future conflicts. This new form of cyber warfare introduces an innovative attack model, signifying that cyberattacks are no longer confined to data theft and system disruption. Now, physically manipulating smart devices can directly cause physical harm and casualties.

If such methods are abused, they could become a new means of large-scale terrorist attacks. Moreover, the secondary disasters caused by this novel assassination method cannot be underestimated. If the targeted attack occurs in a densely populated public place, such as a shopping mall, a transit station, or a sports arena, the explosion would harm innocent civilians nearby and could trigger stampedes due to panic. If the explosion were to occur aboard a civilian aircraft in flight, it would risk causing the plane to depressurize and lose control, resulting in an even more catastrophic disaster.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the explosion involved pagers manufactured by Taiwan’s Golden Apollo Company. Golden Apollo stated that it had authorized a Hungary-registered company, BAC, to produce the devices. However, AFP reported that BAC is merely a business consultancy, and the production was subcontracted to another Bulgarian company. The Bulgarian State Agency for National Security announced an investigation into a Sofia-registered company suspected of involvement in the Lebanese explosions. The agency noted that these pagers were not transported within Bulgaria and that the company’s registered address lacked an operational office. The company’s registrant resides in Norway, where his employer has reported the matter to the police. Norwegian media disclosed that the individual has since traveled to the U.S. Oslo police confirmed the initiation of a preliminary investigation into the disclosed information.

According to Turkey’s TRT World, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a 2017 cyber technology conference in Tel Aviv: “Today’s wars have undergone dramatic changes. . . . Without exaggeration, it is rapidly evolving to a point where, if you wish, you could quickly subdue a country at the push of a button—if you are willing to take that risk. Because any system can be breached.” The New York Times reported that Hezbollah adopted pagers to prevent Israel from using mobile networks to track its members, which Israeli intelligence saw as an opportunity. Plans to establish shell companies posing as international pager manufacturers began early on. In addition to Hungary-registered BAC, Israel is alleged to have registered at least two other shell companies to conceal the true identities of those manufacturing the pagers. Israeli intelligence officials referred to these devices as “buttons to press when the time is right.” A source revealed that the explosive material was sealed in the batteries during production, making it nearly impossible to detect using scanning equipment.

The explosion of electronic devices in Lebanon blurs the line between “cyber warfare” and physical combat, potentially redefining the terms. In the aftermath of this incident, many countries are likely to grow concerned about the security of globalization-based electronic supply chains. To ensure national security, offshoring may become less favorable, with nations instead prioritizing “domestic production” to the greatest extent possible, especially in areas critical to livelihood and strategy. This shift would challenge corporate reliance on outsourcing and global supply chains, prompting countries to strengthen support for domestic manufacturing to enhance security, albeit at the cost of significantly reduced production efficiency.

Such attack methods are by no means a “necessary measure” for countering terrorism. Their potential destructive impact is undoubtedly alarming. The international community must take this issue seriously, adopting more multilayered and globalized responses to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

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