Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has ordered all its members to cease using communication devices after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah in Lebanon exploded last week, killing 39 people and injuring over 3,000, according to two senior Iranian security officials. The coordinated attacks on Hezbollah’s communication systems have sparked major security concerns within Iran.
The IRGC has launched a large-scale operation to inspect all devices used by its personnel, not just communication equipment. One senior security official said most of these devices were either homemade or imported from China and Russia. Amid fears of Israeli infiltration, the IRGC has also begun a thorough investigation of its personnel, targeting mid and high-ranking members. The scrutiny includes examining bank accounts in Iran and abroad, as well as reviewing travel histories of IRGC members and their families.
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“This is about ensuring there are no infiltrations from Israeli agents, including Iranians on Israel’s payroll,” the official said, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The explosions in Lebanon’s Hezbollah strongholds occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday when thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies detonated, an incident widely attributed to Israel, although Israel has not officially commented. The blasts have intensified concerns about Iran’s security, particularly the protection of its nuclear and missile facilities, especially those underground. Security measures at these sites have been significantly increased, according to another Iranian official.
In response to the attacks, IRGC officials have reached out to Hezbollah for technical assessments, with several exploded devices sent to Tehran for examination by Iranian experts. The IRGC has also ordered its 190,000-strong force to avoid all communication devices temporarily, shifting to secure end-to-end encryption in messaging systems.