What Is PETN, The Highly Explosive Material Allegedly Used In Lebanon Pager Blasts?

On Tuesday, a devastating attack targeting Hezbollah operatives occurred across Lebanon and parts of Syria. Nine people lost their lives in this incident, while over 2,800 more were injured. The pagers that were given to Hezbollah militants were believed to have been wired with high explosives by the Israeli espionage organization Mossad, which is why the explosions occurred, according to the New York Post.

PETN: A Brief DescriptionThe current attack made use of a highly explosive chemical substance called pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). The compound recognized for its explosive qualities is pentaerythritol (PENN), which is its nitrate ester. PETN creates a plastic explosion when mixed with a plasticizer. One of the strongest explosives ever discovered, it is a part of the plastic explosive Semtex. Chemical and Medical PropertiesThe FDA has approved PETN for use as a coronary vasodilator in the management of heart diseases including angina. Its effects on vasodilation are comparable to those of glyceryl trinitrate, although its duration of action is longer. But in this case, its main use is not as a medicinal remedy but rather as a powerful explosion. Execution of the AttackThe Times of Israel and Sky News Arabia have reported that months before the incident, Hezbollah's consignment of pagers was purportedly intercepted by Mossad agents. These agents allegedly inserted PETN into the pagers' batteries. Afterwards, an outside signal set off the devices, causing the batteries to overheat and explode. However, there is no official confirmation or declaration by any agencies whatsoever. Hezbollah’s ResponseNumerous Hezbollah militants and doctors were hurt in the explosions, the organization claimed. The event was described as the "biggest security breach" since the escalation of assaults against Israel that started on October 8 by an unidentified organization official. Hezbollah has threatened to retaliate after the terror organization and Lebanese officials claimed that Israel was responsible for the strike. Distribution and DetonationThe pagers that exploded were the most recent versions that Hezbollah had obtained and given to its members in recent months. Security sources said that malware may have infiltrated the devices, resulting in the batteries overheating and setting off the explosives. Before the explosion, some Hezbollah members claimed to have thrown away their pagers after sensing that they were heating up. Previous WarningsHassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, had warned his members not to carry cell phones in March, citing the possibility that they may be used for tracking or targeted attacks. The group's knowledge of possible risks related to communication devices is highlighted by this warning.