Personal Communications Devices Explode Across Lebanon
On September 17-18, 2024, a series of attacks targeting the personal communications devices of Lebanese Hizballah (LH) left 39 dead and more than 3,000 others wounded. The explosions occurred in areas controlled by the LH, and among those killed was the son of an LH member of Parliament.
Experts believe the unprecedented attacks were carried out by Israel, although Israel has not claimed responsibility. The wireless communications devices – pagers and two-way radios – were possibly intercepted and sabotaged before being delivered to LH members.
Attacks Rapidly Escalate Tensions and Fears of a Wider Regional Conflict
In response, LH carried out retaliatory strikes targeting Tiberias, Israel, on September 18, 2024, and Israeli authorities said they intercepted at least two projectiles. On September 20, 2024, the IDF launched an airstrike, killing Ibrahim Aqil, a senior LH commander, as well as other senior members. Since then, Israel and Hizballah have exchanged heavy fire across the border of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. These exchanges reached a crescendo on September 23, 2024, when Israeli missiles struck an estimated 1,600 LH assets, mainly in LH controlled areas of Beqaa Valley and Southern Lebanon. These strikes killed 558 and injured 2,700 more, according to Lebanese health authorities. This was the deadliest attack in Lebanon since 2006.
As of September 24, 2024, at least forty flights in and out of Beirut’s International Airport have been canceled, including Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, and Air France. Several of these airlines have signaled that they will reevaluate on October 1, 2024, as the situation remains fluid.
In Israel, schools and beaches were closed and restrictions imposed on public gatherings. Israeli authorities also imposed flight restrictions on air travel over northern parts of the country.
The targeted nature of these exchanges is consistent with the pattern of measured escalations in the region. However, the scale of these attacks represents a significant shift in escalation and indicates a willingness on both sides to continue applying pressure through retaliatory attacks. Several indicators of a full-scale conflict emerging between Israel and LH include attacks on critical infrastructure, troop incursions across the border, troop firefights at the border, and shelter-in-place orders in larger urban centers such as Beirut, Sidon, and Haifa.
The Implications: Supply Chain and Public Fear Create New Global Risks
While the nature of this conflict remains fluid, it’s important to highlight the pager attacks in escalating these tensions, the effect it had on Lebanese society, and its implications on manufacturing and supply chain security moving forward. The immediate impact of these attacks was felt across Lebanese society. The explosions put a high burden on the healthcare system and emergency medical services, as thousands sought medical care. The attacks also raised fears that any electronic device – including smartphones, telephones, and personal computers – could be compromised, which made it difficult to conduct business and manage daily life in the days following the pager explosions.
In such situations, public fear is a dynamic risk. Lebanese society grounded to a halt in the hours and days following the pager explosions, and yet global businesses needed to rapidly communicate with employees in Lebanon.
Organizations with employees in areas like Lebanon must have technology in place that enables multi-modal communication with those living or traveling in the area. This is vital to ensure their people can receive the medical care they need or be evacuated safely. Organizations should monitor for threat risks that impact employees and travelers.
Other long-term concerns are supply chain integrity and organizational resilience. With this event, supply chain attacks have become an emergent threat vector. Supply chain risk management will now be a higher priority for global businesses. Manufacturers, suppliers, and electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will need to review and monitor security across the whole supply chain, as copycat tactics have now become a consideration.
Global businesses looking to navigate geopolitical tensions, build supply chain resilience, or looking to understand how technology helps with navigating complex risk, can reach out to us to learn about our Critical Event Management solution.
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