Pagers and handheld radios explode in Lebanon; here's all about Israel's cyber warfare unit 8200
The Feed September 20, 2024 09:00 AM
Synopsis

A recent pager and walkie talkie blast across Lebanon and Syria has rocked the Middle East like never before as allegations are being leveled against the Israeli intelligence agencies, especially the one known as Unit 8200, which is a special covert op unit specialized with operations like these.

Mourners gather at the funeral of Hezbollah members Fadel Abbas Bazzi and Ahmad Ali Hassan, after hand-held radios and pagers used by armed group Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon, in Ghobeiry, Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon September 19, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
Israel is currently under scrutiny and allegations for the recent page and walkie talkie attacks in parts of Lebanon and Syria involving Hezbollah leaders. This major incident has drawn the scanner upon Israel's covert operation unit 8200, that is specialized in cyber warfare operations. It boasts of some of the world's best hackers and intel operatives who carry out some of the most dangerous cyber operations in the world, including tapping into communications of secure servers of enemy countries. However, this time they have come up with a rather 'innovative' idea.

What exactly happened against Hezbollah leaders and members?

Hezbollah leaders and members who carry pagers and walkie talkies, ended up injured or dead, when their devices blasted in unison, something that has never been seen before. Some suspect that the operation took place by breaching into the pager' and walkie's communication frequencies, and using it to breach into the device' battery component and overheating it, causing them to blast apart.

Meanwhile, another theory has been doing the rounds that the Israeli intelligence services laced these pagers and walkie talkies with explosive materials before their distribution to Hezbollah members, causing them to blast at a specific timeframe. The detonation could have been triggered through the communication channels, during that specific time.

What is Unit 8200 all about?

Among multiple covert units of Mossad, military intelligence and defense forces, Unit 8200 is a unique one and boasts of some of the best cyber experts in the world, who are rumored to easily crack through the safest of networks and communication channels, and have been a constant headache for rival nations, especially in the Middle East.

They often work closely with US' National Security Agency, and also operate on similar lines, protecting the country's cyber defense systems and are also reportedly responsible for the safekeeping of the technology of the Iron Dome, so that it cannot be breached easily.

FAQs:

Is Israel's unit 8200 very powerful?
Unit 8200 of the Israel's defense forces are extremely popular when it comes to the cyber defense structure of the country, and conducting cyber ops against rival nations.

Were people killed in the recent pager blasts?
Multiple people were killed and hundreds injured in the recent pager and walkie talkie blasts across Lebanon and Syria, involving Hezbollah leaders.
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