The Intelligence from The Economist Pager turn: the Israel-Hizbullah conflict escalates
Sep 18, 2024
Doug Dowson, a data journalist at The Economist, dives into the resurgence of conflict in the Middle East, as the explosion of pagers signals a fallout for Hizbullah amidst escalating violence. The discussion unfolds the implications of compromised communications for this Shia militant group and touches on public sentiment in Lebanon. On a different note, Dowson reveals how America's obsession with large vehicles contributes to road safety hazards, advocating for potential regulatory changes. Plus, the therapeutic joys and risks of fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast are explored.
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Exploding Pagers
- Exploding pagers caused injuries across Lebanon and Syria, impacting a Beirut market and other locations.
- These devices, used by Hezbollah to avoid surveillance, backfired dramatically.
Likely Culprit
- While Israel hasn't officially claimed responsibility, they are the most likely culprit given their prior statements and capabilities.
- Hezbollah quickly blamed Israel and promised retaliation.
Method of Attack
- Two theories exist: a cyberattack causing battery explosions or pre-planted explosives.
- Evidence points towards the latter, as battery fires burn rather than explode.