Forum Topic

Exploding Pagers

Whoever is responsible for the wanton indiscriminate maiming of so many in Lebanon via exploding pagers is, in my opinion, afflicted by a crazed bloodlust and like a suffering animal ought to be relieved of its suffering. The slaughter of innocents, of which currently there are many thousands, especially children and babies, in the middle-east, must be brought to an end: where are the Statesmen and Women to achieve this?

Clifford Cowell ● 38d14 Comments

'But it is not correct to describe this escalation as the ‘indiscriminate slaughter of innocents.’The ‘indiscriminate slaughter of innocents.’ in my opinion started on 7th October 2023 and was carried out by Palestinian Arabs that were members of the terrorist organisation Hamas.Have others forgotten this ?Israel is under constant threat of annihilation from all of the Arab states, many being theocratic Islamist and undemocratic oligarchies in nature, that surround it -  namely Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and the not universally recognised 'state' of Palestine.Backed up by nearby 'neighbours' Iran, Iraq, Saudi and the Emirate States.It will naturally, and quite rightly in my opinion, do all it can to disrupt these aggressors to defend itself.It is light years ahead of these mostly backward adversaries in terms of innovation and technical knowhow and will naturally use whatever sophisticated and imaginative techniques to do so as it has shown.And mainly to target its enemies' political leaders let's not forget.Is opponent's techniques are at the level of persuading a probably deranged individual with a promise of a martyr's bliss in Paradise, to strap explosives to his body and detonate them in a civilian crowd.

John Hawkes ● 37d

I see the Founder and President of Apollo Gold is thinking of issuing a lawsuit - but against who? Mossad, BAC Consulting …https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taiwan-firm-denies-making-pagers-used-lebanon-explosions-rcna171594

Michael Ixer ● 37d

"weaponise everyday items"Well, I do seem to recall an account from 800 years ago of German miners in Poland going off to fight the Mongols using their working tools. I think that they lost that one.I could fight most of the devices in my house, apart from one of the electric drills and an electric saw. A vicious pair. And I wouldn't take on the microwave at all. I think that it is outlawed by the Geneva Convention, anyway.

David Ainsworth ● 37d

The first world war initiated and the second world war regularised the bombing of civilians (the Nazi's Blitz against UK cities, allied area bombing againstGerman cities.). This attack in the Lebanon seems to me to cross another boundary, blurring the line between cyber, and physical, operational and industrial security to weaponise everyday items connected to wireless networks used by both civilians and members of the military. With the growing use of Internet of Things devices this has to be of concern to us all. (I can think of other ways of doctoring IoT devices but won't mention them as I don't wish to give people ideas!)

Michael Ixer ● 37d

Thanks, David. Seems plausible, a lot easier to manufacture the devices with the integral "booby-trap". Retrofitting could leave signs and raise suspicions?Let's hope they had a good traceability process and all the devices went with their correct orders!

Michael Ixer ● 37d

"How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding PagersThe Israeli government did not tamper with the Hezbollah devices that exploded, defense and intelligence officials say. It manufactured them as part of an elaborate ruse.""By all appearances, B.A.C. Consulting was a Hungary-based company that was under contract to produce the devices on behalf of a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. In fact, it was part of an Israeli front, according to three intelligence officers briefed on the operation. They said at least two other shell companies were created as well to mask the real identities of the people creating the pagers: Israeli intelligence officers.B.A.C. did take on ordinary clients, for which it produced a range of ordinary pagers. But the only client that really mattered was Hezbollah, and its pagers were far from ordinary. Produced separately, they contained batteries laced with the explosive PETN, according to the three intelligence officers.The pagers began shipping to Lebanon in the summer of 2022 in small numbers, but production was quickly ramped up after Mr. Nasrallah denounced cellphones."2022. Long in advance.(New York Times article, updated today)

David Ainsworth ● 37d

Well don't keep them in your trouser pocket, or you might be minus nuts.

Barbara Stevens ● 38d

Some international lawyers have suggested that booby trapping common devices that anyone including children might pick up is a contravention of international law.I see Beirut airport has now banned pagers and walkie-talkies. Luckily no one was travelling on a scheduled air service with one of those in the past couple of days. They might have been out of range of the activating signal but whoever instigated the attack couldn't have been sure of that.Still, if it puts people off flying I suppose that's good for the planet! (If phones start exploding that would become a real security issue with online ticketing apps and border entrance information, inflight wifi, etc.)

Michael Ixer ● 38d

'Whoever is responsible for the wanton indiscriminate maiming of so many in Lebanon via exploding pagers is, in my opinion, afflicted by a crazed bloodlust and like a suffering animal ought to be relieved of its suffering'. Does this mean the state of Israel should be annihilated ?'The slaughter of innocents, of which currently there are many thousands, especially children and babies, in the middle-east, must be brought to an end: where are the Statesmen and Women to achieve this'?Where indeed.Certainly not on the Palestinian side whilst there is still support for Hamas and also not at the UN.'The UN General Assembly has adopted a Palestinian-drafted, non-binding resolution demanding Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months.There were 124 votes in favour and 14 against, including Israel, along with 43 abstentions. As a non-member observer state, Palestine could not vote'. BBC News.The UK did a Fleur and abstained - 'The UK’s ambassador, Barbara Woodward, explained that it had abstained “not because we do not support the central findings of the ICJ's advisory opinion, but rather because the resolution does not provide sufficient clarity to effectively advance our shared aim of a peace premised on a negotiated two-state solution”.Also the UN has never condemned Palestinian terror group Hamas for its atrocities 'Before their overwhelming vote Friday (March 2024) in favor of a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, the United Nations rejected an amendment to the resolution that would have condemned the October 7 Hamas terror attacks and demanded humane treatment of hostages while calling for their immediate release'.

John Hawkes ● 38d

I think it was meant to target Hezbollah terrorists but two children were killed and there's reports that some medics who also carried pagers (as many medics do) were casualties. On the one hand it was an innovative and enterprising exercise but I'd say also ruthless and reckless with no thought for innocent family members or - looking at the initial video - bystanders in markets. I just hope none of these devices go into the "wild", like the Stuxnet computer virus - which targeted the Iranian centrifuges - did.

Michael Ixer ● 38d

I don’t want to minimise the gruesome horror of the pager and radio explosions. But it is not correct to describe this escalation as the ‘indiscriminate slaughter of innocents.’ The Israelis targeted Hezbollah fighters who, far from being innocent, are members of a terrorist organisation, funded by Iran, which for several months has bombarded Northern Israel, forcing 60 000 people to abandon their homes.  If Hezbollah agreed to stop its continual attacks on Israel, such as the one where Druze children were killed at a football match, the Israelis would be only too happy to leave Lebanon alone. But it is questionable whether this action by the Israelis will achieve the desired aim of deterring Hezbollah from carrying out further attacks.

Steven Rose ● 38d

Also Solar Energy Systems and held hand radio's.

Barbara Stevens ● 38d

More escalation, more hand-held devices being targeted and even reports of exploding solar panels on residential properties. Full scale war in the Middle East is building ...

Sue Hammond ● 38d

and now hundreds more injured by exploding walkie talkies.

Michael Brigo ● 38d