Hezbollah's pagers: How they work and what could have triggered their explosion

Following the explosion of several pagers used by Hezbollah members, questions have arisen about what a pager is and how it can explode.

A pager is a small electronic device used to receive text messages or notifications without needing an internet connection. It was commonly used in the 1990s and early 2000s as a primary means of communication before mobile phones became widely available.

The pager operates simply: users enter a code into the device, which is transmitted to a receiving center or system that sends a notification to the pager. The pager can display text messages or short notifications, and in some models, users can reply to messages or dial a specific number.

Although the use of pagers has significantly declined with the advent of smartphones, they are still employed in some specialized fields, such as hospitals and healthcare facilities, where they are valued for quick and reliable notifications.

According to preliminary information, Tuesday's breach may have been due to the device’s battery overheating and exploding. There is also inaccurate speculation about the arrival of a new batch of suspicious pagers.

According to information obtained by LBCI, initial reports suggest the pager server was compromised, leading to the installation of a script that caused an overload. This likely resulted in the overheating of the lithium battery, which then exploded. The physical damage sustained by the device’s user can vary from severe to minor, depending on the area in contact with the device.