Lebanon pager blasts show Israel’s edge over Hezbollah’s outdated tactics: Expert

Tuesday’s pager explosions in Lebanon highlighted the technological gap between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, according to Markram Rabah, a professor at the American University of Beirut.

In an interview with Tom Burges Watson on Al Arabiya News, Rabah argued that while Hezbollah relies on outdated technology, Israel has used sophisticated means to launch psychological warfare against Hezbollah and its supporters.

The blasts, which targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, left eight people dead and over 2,750 injured, including many Hezbollah fighters. Rabah emphasized that the attacks were a message from Israel, signaling that even Hezbollah’s low-tech communication systems could be weaponized against them.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Rabah described the attacks as reminiscent of a “Hollywood espionage movie,” underscoring the extent to which Israel has managed to turn low-tech devices into lethal weapons.

The blasts mark a significant security breach for Hezbollah, which has vowed retaliation, calling the explosions an “Israeli aggression.”

Rabah pointed out that while Hezbollah tries to project strength, its technological limitations make it vulnerable. He framed the event as a stark reminder to Hezbollah’s supporters that the consequences of their alignment with the group are increasingly dire.