Following a series of bombings targeting Hezbollah’s communications in Lebanon, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) restricted its members from using communication devices such as pagers and walkie-talkies. The attacks, which took place in mid-September 2024, killed 39 individuals and injured almost 3,000. The bombs, many of which were manufactured or imported, were detonated in coordinated attacks against Hezbollah strongholds, with Lebanon and Hezbollah blaming Israeli participation. Israel has not confirmed nor disputed its role.
The IRGC’s response includes inspecting equipment for potential Israeli agent infiltration and conducting personal and financial background checks on mid- and high-ranking personnel. The IRGC is now using end-to-end encrypted messaging for communication, while a technical assessment of the destroyed devices is underway in Tehran.
In response, the IRGC quickly prohibited the use of any communication devices by its members and launched an investigation into the degree of Israeli infiltration. According to Iranian security experts, Israel may have gained access to Hezbollah’s communication networks, potentially causing major consequences for both Hezbollah and the IRGC. The current effort in Iran includes checking bank accounts and travel histories of IRGC personnel, indicating the extent of worry in Iran’s ruling establishment about potential espionage.
Iran has also requested technical assessments from Hezbollah and returned samples of the destroyed devices to Tehran for further investigation. For the time being, the IRGC communicates internally via encrypted messaging systems, though the specifics of how these systems are protected remain unknown.
The strikes reveal not only a vulnerability in Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, but also the larger regional war between Iran and Israel. The decades-long war has become more severe as Israel sees Iran as a existential risk because of its nuclear ambitions. Hezbollah, as Iran’s proxy, plays a crucial role in exerting Iranian influence in the Middle East. Tehran’s response to the attack underscores the increasing sophistication of Israel’s intelligence operations and the lengths Iran will go to protect its assets.
