Lebanon witnessed a wave of panic on Friday as residents across various regions received alarming phone calls from foreign numbers warning of imminent Israeli strikes and urging them to evacuate their homes. These warnings, which extended even to areas far from conflict zones, have raised questions about the credibility of the messages and concerns over potential Israeli access to Lebanon's telecommunications infrastructure.
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Sunday 24 November 2024 10:43:19
Lebanon witnessed a wave of panic on Friday as residents across various regions received alarming phone calls from foreign numbers warning of imminent Israeli strikes and urging them to evacuate their homes. These warnings, which extended even to areas far from conflict zones, have raised questions about the credibility of the messages and concerns over potential Israeli access to Lebanon's telecommunications infrastructure.
Reports of similar calls have surfaced over recent months, with recipients noting that the calls often originate from Western, African, or even far-flung locations like Indonesia.
Security authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the matter, even as reports emerged of some residents abandoning their homes in response to the calls. The panic reached such levels that Dar al-Fatwa canceled Friday prayers in certain mosques as a precaution. Meanwhile, security agencies have urged citizens to report such calls and share the numbers to help trace their origin and identify the callers.
However, tracing the calls has proven difficult. Many are made using internet-based technologies that allow callers to spoof numbers, making it nearly impossible to identify their true origin. This has fueled speculation about whether the calls are a product of foreign psychological warfare or the work of local actors exploiting the tense situation.
Amid the uncertainty, prank calls have reportedly added to the fear, amplifying the chaos in a country already grappling with heightened tensions.
Abdul Monem Youssef, the former Director General of Ogero, Lebanon’s state-owned telecom operator, provided insight into the technical mechanisms behind the calls, telling Annahar that the numbers displayed on Lebanese phone screens are not real as they do not belong to any actual country or subscriber.
"These are virtual numbers generated through internet voice services, known as Voice over IP (VoIP)," he explained.
"An IP server controlled by the caller generates these numbers, which connect to a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) system via internet protocols. This system then links to international or domestic telephone networks, reaching Lebanese subscribers on both landlines and mobile phones. Recipients cannot identify the caller because the numbers are entirely fabricated," Youssef further elaborated.
While speculation about Israeli involvement persists, Youssef cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
"Given the random and irregular nature of these calls, they could very well be originating from within Lebanon. Setting up the necessary infrastructure—an IP server, an IP PABX, and local telecom subscriptions from providers like Alfa, Touch, or Ogero—is relatively straightforward and inexpensive," he noted.
Another pressing concern is whether the data used to target Lebanese residents is updated. On this point, Youssef clarified that "the data available to the enemy is unlikely to be more than a week old. This applies to all subscribers on the landline phone network as well as Alfa and Touch mobile networks."
Despite the sophisticated technology used, security analyses suggest the calls are fabricated. None of the areas that received evacuation warnings have been targeted by Israeli strikes, leading experts to conclude that the calls are designed to incite fear rather than deliver genuine warnings.
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