Israel’s assault on Hezbollah: when cyber threats get physical
Wars have evolved dramatically from ancient times, where battles were fought with swords, spears, and bows, to modern conflicts dominated by advanced technologies. In early times, warfare was largely hand-to-hand combat, with empires like Rome and Greece relying on disciplined armies and strategic formations. The invention of gunpowder in the medieval period revolutionised warfare with the introduction of firearms and cannons, pushing battles to greater distances. The industrial revolution further intensified conflicts, with the mass production of weapons leading to devastating world wars in the 20th century, featuring tanks, airplanes, and nuclear weapons.
However, the 21st century has introduced a new frontier: cyber warfare. No longer confined to physical battlefields, conflicts are increasingly fought in the digital realm, where lines of code replace bullets.
A striking example of this modern warfare is Israel’s recent cyber attack on Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, where compromised pager devices and bomb-laden walkie-talkies were used to deadly effect. This sophisticated cyber-physical attack resulted in the detonation of thousands of devices, leading to the deaths of at least 20 people and injuries to over 450 others. This incident underscores how nations now target critical infrastructure and communication systems through cyber means, blending traditional warfare with cutting-edge technology to achieve strategic goals.
Initial investigations reveal that the attack was orchestrated by Mossad, Israel’s renowned intelligence agency, through a sophisticated supply chain compromise. This operation involved embedding explosive devices in 5,000 pagers manufactured by Taiwanese company Gold Apollo before they were distributed to Hezbollah, an Iranian-affiliated militant group. This breach not only highlights the severe vulnerabilities within supply chain security but also demonstrates how communication technologies can be exploited in asymmetric warfare scenarios.
The attacks
The simultaneous blasts occurred on Tuesday, and then again on Wednesday, that time targeting the large gathering for funerals of four of 12 victims from the first wave. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with ambulances struggling to reach the wounded as locals grew increasingly suspicious of anyone using mobile devices. These attacks have deepened the sense of insecurity within Lebanese society, following a sophisticated assault on thousands of pagers used by members of the militant group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has attributed the recent violence to its rival, Israel, though Israeli officials have yet to comment on the situation.
Two companies—one based in Taiwan and the other in Hungary—were named in media reports as the manufacturers of the compromised pagers. Both firms have denied any wrongdoing, with the Taiwanese government clarifying that the components were not sourced from Taiwan. “The components are low-end integrated circuits and batteries, and I can confirm they were not made in Taiwan,” stated Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei.
A Japanese company linked to the walkie-talkies revealed that production of that particular model ceased a decade ago.
The initial wave of explosions began in Beirut and several other locations at approximately 3:30 PM local time on Tuesday. Witnesses described smoke emanating from individuals' pockets, followed by small blasts resembling fireworks or gunshots. The pagers received messages purportedly from Hezbollah leadership shortly before detonating, indicating that these communications may have triggered the devices. Subsequent explosions continued for around an hour after the initial incidents, according to Reuters.
In the aftermath, many individuals rushed to hospitals across Lebanon, with witnesses describing widespread confusion in emergency rooms. Similar scenes unfolded nationwide during another series of explosions on Wednesday around 5:00 PM local time.
The detonated devices were walkie-talkies purchased by Hezbollah five months ago, with at least one explosion occurring near a funeral procession in Beirut for some of Tuesday's victims, causing panic among attendees. The death toll has now risen to 20, with over 450 injuries reported.
Old school in a high-tech world
Pagers, commonly referred to as "beepers," were groundbreaking in their time. These compact, wireless devices functioned through radio frequency (RF) signals to alert users of new messages, transforming communication in an era before the dominance of mobile phones. Historically, pagers were crucial for professionals who needed to receive critical updates in areas with limited connectivity. For instance, healthcare workers relied on pagers to be notified of emergencies or urgent messages, while journalists used them to receive breaking news alerts in real-time.
Pagers operate by receiving RF signals from a central base station. Upon receiving a signal, the device emits an audible beep or vibration to alert the user. Some advanced pagers featured LCD screens that could display alphanumeric messages, enhancing communication efficiency and situational awareness. Despite their historical significance, pagers had inherent limitations. They could not send replies, and their effectiveness was contingent on the availability of RF signal coverage, which could be unreliable in certain locations.
By the 1990s, mobile phones began to replace pagers, offering integrated voice and data services that rendered pagers largely obsolete. Mobile phones provided a more versatile communication tool, combining voice calls, text messaging, and eventually Internet access, thereby diminishing the role of pagers in everyday communication. However, pagers continue to be used in specific sectors where their simplicity and reliability in one-way communication remain advantageous.
Walkie-talkies, first developed during World War II, have played a pivotal role in military and civilian communications. These handheld two-way radios allowed soldiers and emergency responders to communicate over short distances, even in areas where other communication systems were unreliable. Walkie-talkies offered portability and real-time voice communication, making them indispensable for tactical operations and field coordination.
Despite their historical significance, walkie-talkies face modern limitations, particularly in cybersecurity. Unlike encrypted digital communications, traditional walkie-talkies rely on unsecured radio frequencies, which can be easily intercepted or manipulated. The recent cyber-physical attack on Hezbollah is a stark reminder of these vulnerabilities. Israeli intelligence reportedly exploited walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, embedding remote detonation devices within them. This demonstrates how even legacy communication systems can be weaponised, turning once-essential tools into lethal devices.
A case study in cyber-physical warfare
The attack on Hezbollah’s pagers is a striking example of modern cyber-physical warfare. Intelligence operations revealed that Hezbollah’s use of pagers—a technology now deemed outdated—was a deliberate choice aimed at evading advanced signals intelligence (SIGINT) and geolocation tracking employed by adversarial intelligence agencies like Israel. Mossad’s operation involved a hardware-based supply chain attack, where remote-detonation explosives were embedded within the pagers before they reached Hezbollah.
Gold Apollo manufactured the pagers in question under a licensing agreement with European distributor BAC. According to Hsu Ching-kuang, the founder of Gold Apollo, the company was not involved in the design or production of the AR294 model used in the attack. Furthermore, shipping records do not show direct shipments of these devices to Lebanon or the Middle East during the relevant time frame. This suggests that the attack involved a sophisticated manipulation of the supply chain, integrating hardware with explosive payloads to achieve strategic objectives.
Images of the damaged Gold Apollo pagers circulating on social media corroborate these findings. The scale and complexity of the explosions reveal significant weaknesses in Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure. By targeting outdated hardware, Israeli intelligence successfully undermined the integrity of Hezbollah’s network. This incident exemplifies how legacy systems can be weaponised to produce substantial impacts in modern conflicts.
Global parallels and challenges
The Hezbollah attack parallels other high-profile cyber incidents, highlighting the universal relevance of these security challenges. For example, the 2021 SolarWinds attack in the United States exposed critical vulnerabilities in global supply chains, affecting thousands of organisations, including several US government agencies. This attack underscored the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect against sophisticated cyber espionage.
Similarly, the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack demonstrated the widespread impact of cyber threats. Affecting over 200,000 computers in 150 countries, WannaCry highlighted the necessity for up-to-date security measures and prompt response strategies to mitigate the effects of ransomware attacks. These global incidents reveal that the challenges faced in Lebanon are not isolated but part of a broader pattern of increasing cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity in Pakistan: learning from global trends
Pakistan, too, has encountered significant cyber threats that reflect these global trends. In 2020, Pakistan’s national database suffered a major data breach, compromising the sensitive personal information of millions of citizens. This breach revealed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s cybersecurity infrastructure and emphasised the need for enhanced protective measures.
Furthermore, in 2019, Pakistan experienced a series of cyberattacks attributed to rival state actors. These attacks compromised several government and military networks, underscoring the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect national interests. The sophistication of these attacks highlights the need for Pakistan to strengthen its cybersecurity protocols and secure its critical infrastructure against both cyber and physical threats.
The Israeli attack on Hezbollah offers valuable lessons for Pakistan in fortifying its cybersecurity infrastructure. The sophisticated nature of the Israeli operation—embedding explosives in seemingly innocuous pagers—demonstrates the potential for cyberattacks to exploit vulnerabilities in supply chains and communication systems. For Pakistan, this means prioritising the enhancement of cybersecurity protocols, particularly in securing critical infrastructure and communication networks.
Implementing rigorous security measures, conducting regular vulnerability assessments, and fostering international cooperation on cybersecurity issues are essential steps in mitigating risks and enhancing national resilience. Additionally, establishing comprehensive cyber norms and agreements, strengthening global defense networks, and investing in cybersecurity research and development are crucial for staying ahead of emerging threats.
The evolving nature of cyber threats—including sophisticated advanced persistent threats (APTs) and zero-day vulnerabilities—highlights the importance of stringent vendor risk management and supply chain security measures. Regulatory fragmentation and the high cost of compliance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), pose significant challenges. Addressing these challenges through coordinated global initiatives and strategic investments is essential for enhancing collective cyber defense and resilience.
For Pakistani readers, understanding these global trends and incidents provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cyber warfare and the importance of strengthening national cybersecurity measures. By learning from international experiences and reinforcing its defenses, Pakistan can better navigate the complex landscape of modern cyber threats and safeguard its national security.
Ayaz Hussain Abbasi is a freelance contributor who focuses on issues pertaining to cybersecurity and cyberwarfare
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author