Exploding Tech: Israel’s Secret Weapon

In a series of highly sophisticated covert operations this week, thousands of individuals in Lebanon were targeted through what is believed to be a Mossad-led intelligence strike, signalling a new phase in Israel’s war effort. On Tuesday, explosions rocked the region as thousands of pagers belonging to “Hizballah operatives” detonated, followed by a second wave of blasts that tore through hundreds of walkie-talkies on Wednesday. The attacks have left a devastating toll: 12 people were killed and over 2,000 injured from the pager blasts, while the walkie-talkie explosions claimed the lives of 20 and wounded at least 450 more.

The Israeli government has remained tight-lipped about the operation, with no official comment on the attacks. However, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s announcement of “a new phase in the war” on Wednesday suggests a strategic shift in Israel’s military posture, one that aims to cripple Hizballah’s military capabilities and secure Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

Targeting Hizballah’s Infrastructure

Hizballah has long been portrayed as a significant threat to Israel’s security, especially in the north. Despite occasional skirmishes between the two, Iran, Hizballah’s key backer, has remained largely inactive as tensions escalate. Over the past eleven months, while Israel, acting as the U.S.’s “bulldog,” took a more aggressive stance and intensified its actions in Gaza, Iran had ample opportunity to intervene but did not. Given this, it seems unlikely that Iran will respond now, even as Israel shifts its focus to Lebanon. By targeting the communication devices used by Hizballah, Israel seems intent on dismantling the group’s command and control infrastructure, possibly preparing for more extensive operations aimed at weakening Hizballah’s ability to launch attacks or coordinate with Iranian forces.

Israel’s goal is clear: degrade Hizballah’s capacity to wage war and create a safer environment to facilitate the return of Israelis displaced by the ongoing conflict. The precision and scale of these attacks signal that Israel is likely preparing for an expanded military campaign aimed at neutralising threats along its northern border.

Western Intelligence Collaboration: A Crucial Element

The scale and technical sophistication of this operation suggest it was not carried out by Israel alone. While Mossad has a long history of audacious and highly effective intelligence missions, the widespread detonation of communication devices points to the involvement of Western intelligence agencies, particularly in providing the technological expertise required to execute the operation. The integration of such intricate technology into Hizballah’s communication systems indicates that equipment provided or sold by Western countries was either manipulated or compromised.

This raises uncomfortable questions about the extent of Western collusion in operations targeting organisations like Hizballah and whether Western-supplied technology is being weaponised against Muslim countries. Given the complexity of the operation, it is unlikely that Israel could have pulled off such a feat without assistance from nations that possess cutting-edge cyber warfare capabilities. The operation reveals a disturbing vulnerability for countries that have bought communication or military equipment from Western suppliers, highlighting the potential for surveillance or sabotage by foreign intelligence.

Historically, the U.S. has been involved in similar compromises of military technology in the Muslim world. The Stuxnet virus (2010), developed by the U.S. and Israel, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the U.S. manipulated Iraq’s French-built air defence system. In Egypt, U.S.-supplied F-16 jets were suspected of being compromised during the political unrest of 2013. Saudi Arabia’s reliance on the U.S.-supplied Patriot missile defence system also failed to prevent attacks on its oil facilities in 2019, raising questions about Western technology’s reliability. 

The Fragility of Western Technology: Time for Alternatives

This incident serves as a stark reminder that reliance on Western technology can be a double-edged sword. Nations that depend on Western-supplied equipment for critical infrastructure, communication, or military purposes are increasingly exposed to the possibility of their devices being compromised or weaponised against them. As evidenced by the recent explosions targeting Hizballah, sophisticated sabotage can be carried out remotely, with devastating consequences.

The lesson here is clear: Western technology, no matter how advanced, can no longer be fully trusted by nations seeking to safeguard their sovereignty. Muslim countries, in particular, should be cautious about continuing to rely on Western-manufactured equipment that could be repurposed by foreign intelligence agencies. The risk of infiltration or manipulation is simply too high.

In light of this, it is imperative for nations to either develop alternative technology stacks or invest in building their own indigenous capabilities. Countries that want to secure their military communications, intelligence infrastructure, and civilian networks must look beyond Western suppliers to protect themselves from these types of cyber and intelligence threats. Developing homegrown technologies may be more resource-intensive but offers the crucial benefit of security and self-reliance in an era where information warfare is increasingly becoming the norm.

Muslim Armies Must Break Free from Western Dependence

The Muslim armies cannot afford to let their military capabilities be compromised. The attack in Lebanon is not solely about Hizballah—it is about systematically weakening any form of military strength that the Muslim world may possess by exploiting vulnerabilities in its technology. It is high time that the armies of the Muslim world break away from the shackles of dependence on the West in all shapes and forms. To ensure their sovereignty and security, they must reject reliance on external technology and develop their own military and communication systems, safeguarding themselves from future foreign manipulation and control.

The Path to True Independence

An independent economy, military, and technology can only thrive under an independent state free from reliance on the US and its allies in the region. This is a stark reminder that the only way to remove Western influence from the lives of those in the Muslim world is to dismantle the post-Balfour borders, unify under one sincere leadership, and establish a self-sufficient, cohesive Muslim world. The only model that can achieve this is the caliphate based on the method of the Prophet, which provides a unified and just governance system rooted in Islamic principles. Such unity would not only empower the Muslim world to break free from political favours and dependency but would also make it a formidable player in the global balance of power, capable of influencing global affairs on its own terms.