How Everyday Devices Are Turning into Deadly Bombs—Is Your Phone Next?

Imagine hearing a beep from your phone—and in the next second, it explodes. What if your everyday gadgets could be turned against you?

Thousands of pagers, the simplest form of communication, were transformed into deadly explosives, leaving over 37 people dead in a horrifying display of technological sabotage. In two separate incidents in Lebanon, thousands of pagers and radio devices detonated, resulting in thousands of injuries and at least 37 fatalities.

If pagers and walkie-talkies can be weaponized, what about the devices you carry every day—your smartphone, your car, or even your home’s solar panels?

TLDR:
Hezbollah’s communication devices, including pagers and radios, were rigged with explosives in a sophisticated supply chain attack, causing deadly explosions. Investigations point to possible Israeli involvement. This raises concerns about the vulnerability of everyday devices and global supply chains.
When and How the Explosions Occurred:
In mid-September 2024, thousands of Hezbollah communication devices—both pagers and radios—exploded across Lebanon, killing at least 37 people and injuring thousands. The explosions occurred at around 3:30 PM after the devices received a message that appeared to be from Hezbollah leadership. Seconds after the pagers buzzed, they detonated, releasing tiny amounts of hidden explosives and causing chaos.

The devices exploded across key Hezbollah strongholds, including Beirut, Bekaa Valley, and even Damascus. Authorities believe that the devices were sabotaged before reaching Hezbollah, with explosives planted inside them during production.

What Is a Pager?
A pager is a small device used to receive text messages. When a message is sent, the pager beeps or vibrates, displaying the message on an LCD screen. Hezbollah used pagers for secure communication in areas where cellular service was limited. However, in this case, the pagers had been compromised, with explosives hidden inside them, turning the devices into lethal tools.
What Is a Walkie-Talkie?
Walkie-talkies are two-way radios that allow users to communicate directly over radio frequencies. They are commonly used in military and emergency operations because they do not rely on cellular networks. In the Hezbollah case, both pagers and radios were affected by the explosions, with the larger radios containing more powerful explosives due to their larger battery sizes.

How Were Hezbollah’s Devices Compromised?
The explosions were caused by a supply chain attack, where pagers and radios were rigged with explosives before reaching Hezbollah. Early speculation suggested the devices might have been hacked, but experts dismissed that theory. Instead, evidence points to explosives being planted inside the devices during production.

The pagers were produced by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, but the company denied involvement, suggesting that the pagers were made by a Hungarian firm, BAC Consulting, which had licensed Gold Apollo’s trademark. BAC Consulting, in turn, is suspected of being a front for Israeli intelligence, according to some reports. This complex web of companies allowed the devices to be compromised without Hezbollah’s knowledge.

The origins of the radios, which also exploded, remain unclear. Some of the radios were knockoff versions of the ICOM IC-V82, a model produced by a Japanese company. ICOM confirmed that it had stopped producing the radios a decade ago and suggested that the devices had likely been retrofitted with explosives. These knockoff radios were easy to find online, complicating the investigation into their origins.
The Role of Supply Chain Attacks:
A supply chain attack occurs when malicious actors tamper with devices during production or distribution. In this case, it is believed that Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, orchestrated the attack by infiltrating the production process. Tiny explosives, including PETN and RDX, were placed inside the pagers next to the lithium-ion batteries. The devices were then delivered to Hezbollah without suspicion, only to detonate later.

This type of attack highlights the vulnerability of global supply chains, especially in industries like defense, where tampered devices can lead to catastrophic consequences.

How the Devices Were Detonated:
According to reports, the devices were triggered remotely by an “electronic message” that appeared to be from Hezbollah’s leadership. When the devices received this message, they buzzed, prompting users to press a button to stop the alert. However, pressing the button activated the hidden explosives, causing the devices to detonate.

This method of detonation, using a deceptive message, made it nearly impossible for Hezbollah to prevent the attack. Lebanese authorities believe the message was sent deliberately to cause the explosions at the same time, resulting in mass casualties.
How Device Size Affected the Explosion:
The size of the devices affected the severity of the explosions. Larger devices like walkie-talkies could carry more explosives, leading to more powerful blasts and higher casualties. Pagers, being smaller, caused less destruction but still led to serious injuries and deaths. This discrepancy in device size allowed for a wide range of impacts, with some blasts causing large-scale damage and others being more localized.

Unanswered Questions: Who Was Behind It? The Role of Unit 8200:
Israel’s elite military intelligence, Unit 8200, known for their cyber and electronic warfare mastery, may have executed another stunning operation—this time turning simple pagers and radios into lethal weapons. One of its most well-known operations was Stuxnet, a sophisticated cyberweapon that sabotaged Iran’s nuclear program by infecting and disabling its uranium centrifuges, demonstrating how cyberattacks can cause real-world destruction. Another significant operation attributed to Unit 8200 was the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, using a remote-controlled machine gun that was guided via satellite and operated with pinpoint precision, blending physical and digital warfare seamlessly. These examples showcase Unit 8200’s ability to conduct covert, high-tech operations that blur the line between cyber and traditional warfare. In the case of Hezbollah’s pager explosions, it is suspected that Unit 8200 leveraged its cyber expertise to infiltrate the supply chain, rig the devices with explosives, and remotely trigger the detonation, continuing its strategy of using cutting-edge technology to execute precise and effective attacks.
Could Future Devices Like Solar Panels, EVs, or Smartphones Be Sabotaged?
As more devices become interconnected and reliant on complex supply chains, the potential for similar sabotage grows. Devices like solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs), and smartphones could be vulnerable if tampered with during production. While lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics can sometimes explode due to overheating, this incident shows that devices can be deliberately turned into weapons.

In this case, the explosives were placed next to the batteries, which could have triggered a larger blast had the devices been bigger or more powerful. This raises concerns that other everyday devices could be rigged with explosives in future conflicts.
A New Face of Asymmetrical Warfare:
The Hezbollah pager explosions are a stark reminder of how technology can be weaponized in modern warfare. Through supply chain attacks, malicious actors can turn everyday devices into deadly tools, leaving even the most secure organizations vulnerable.

The attack not only raises questions about Israel’s role but also about the future of technology in warfare. As devices like pagers, walkie-talkies, and even smartphones become integral to communication, their potential for sabotage grows. Moving forward, the challenge will be ensuring the security of global supply chains and preventing other devices from being similarly compromised.

We’re living in a world where any device could be a weapon. The question isn’t if, but when—are you prepared? Could the phone in your pocket be next? Share this article to raise awareness about the growing threat of technological sabotage.

Mustafa Mahmud Hussain: Telecommunication and ICT specialist