Recently retired senior Israeli intelligence agents have disclosed new information about a sophisticated clandestine operation that took aim at Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria. The operation, which involved the use of exploding pagers and walkie talkies, was meticulously planned over several years and was executed three months ago.
Hezbollah's retaliatory strikes against Israel were prompted by an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which ignited the Israel-Hamas conflict. The agents, who appeared on CBS' '60 Minutes' with disguised identities, shared insights into the operation.
One agent revealed that the operation commenced a decade ago with the deployment of walkie-talkies containing concealed explosives, unbeknownst to Hezbollah, who unwittingly purchased them from Israel. The detonation of these devices was strategically timed to coincide with the activation of booby-trapped pagers.
The second phase of the plan involved the use of modified pagers, which were rigged with explosives after Mossad discovered that Hezbollah was acquiring pagers from a Taiwanese company. Extensive testing was conducted to ensure that the explosives would only harm the intended targets.
Deception played a crucial role in the operation, with the agents employing false advertising and shell companies to deceive both Hezbollah and the Taiwanese firm. The elaborate scheme was likened to a psychological film where reality is manipulated without the subjects' awareness.
On September 17, the pagers distributed among Hezbollah militants began beeping simultaneously, triggering explosions regardless of whether the messages were read. The following day, the walkie-talkies were activated, resulting in further casualties, including at funerals for victims of the initial attacks.
The objective of the operation, according to one agent, was to convey a message of deterrence rather than solely causing fatalities. The subsequent airstrikes by Israel in Lebanon, culminating in the assassination of Hezbollah's leader, marked a significant escalation in the conflict.
Ultimately, the war between Israel and Hezbollah, stemming from the initial Hamas attack, concluded with a ceasefire in November. The psychological impact of the covert operation was evident as fear permeated Lebanese society, reflecting the vulnerability instilled by Israel's actions.
The agents emphasized the element of unpredictability in their tactics, underscoring the ongoing challenge for Hezbollah to anticipate future moves by Israeli intelligence.
