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Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a rare and potentially explosive revelation, a senior Iranian official has reportedly admitted to Tehran’s involvement in acquiring pagers that exploded across Lebanon last week, devices that Hezbollah operatives were using at the time of the incident. According to a report on the VINNews.com web site, this development comes amid ongoing speculation over Iran’s role in Hezbollah’s activities and the broader implications for Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly in relation to Israel, widely blamed for the attacks.
Moreover, the official’s comments have opened a new chapter in the investigation into the helicopter crash that led to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this year.
According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Europe-based journalist Mohamad Ahwaze, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, confirmed that Hezbollah had been compromised through a sophisticated hacking operation. As per the information provided in the VINNews.com report, the hacking targeted pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives, devices that ultimately exploded on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, leading to catastrophic consequences. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least 37 people and thousands of injuries across Lebanon. The destruction reportedly hit Hezbollah strongholds, sending shockwaves through the group’s communication networks.
هام جداً: صرح أحمد بخشايش أردستاني، عضو لجنة الأمن القومي والسياسة الخارجية في البرلمان الإيراني، بأن إيران متورطة في شراء أجهزة البيجر المنفجرة التي يستخدمها حزب الله. وأضاف أن حزب الله تعرض للاختراق، مشيراً إلى أن الرئيس الإيراني إبراهيم رئيسي كان يستخدم جهاز البيجر أيضاً.… pic.twitter.com/ho0tfwEwhE
— محمد مجيد الأحوازي (@MohamadAhwaze) September 22, 2024
The explosions followed months of escalating cross-border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, with tit-for-tat attacks and retaliations that kept the region on edge. Hezbollah, which serves as both a terrorist organization and a political force in Lebanon, maintains close ties with Tehran, relying on Iranian financial and military support. Indicated in the VIN report was that the acknowledgement by Ardestani that Iran was directly involved in providing the devices to Hezbollah adds a new dimension to these tensions and raises serious questions about Iran’s vulnerabilities and Hezbollah’s operational security.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), though not officially claiming responsibility for the attacks, have long targeted Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, particularly its communication systems. Israel considers Hezbollah a major threat to its national security, and this incident marks the latest chapter in the long-standing covert and overt warfare between the two parties. The VIN report noted that the reported Israeli hacking of Hezbollah’s communication devices suggests a sophisticated cyber operation aimed at weakening the group’s ability to mobilize and coordinate attacks.
Perhaps even more shocking than the details of the attack on Hezbollah is the suggestion that the same compromised pager technology might have played a role in the helicopter crash that killed President Raisi in May, as detailed in the VIN report. This possibility, while not confirmed, has been floated by Ardestani, adding a layer of intrigue to an already complex case.
The crash, which occurred in northern Iran as Raisi’s helicopter collided with a foggy mountainside, was initially attributed to poor weather conditions. Iran’s official investigation, completed earlier this month, reached the same conclusion, stating that visibility issues caused the accident. However, the VIN report said that in light of Ardestani’s comments, questions have arisen as to whether more nefarious factors might have been involved.
