Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, has revealed the extraordinary details of its nearly decade-long campaign against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. This covert operation, which culminated in destructive attacks triggered by hidden explosives within pagers and walkie-talkies, led to significant casualties among Hezbollah members and civilians alike, underscoring the lengths to which Israel is willing to go to counter its adversaries.
The operation commenced around 2013, bolstered by the identification of vulnerabilities within Hezbollah's procurement practices. According to former Mossad agents who spoke anonymously to CBS's "60 Minutes," the Israeli operatives managed to convince Hezbollah of the effectiveness of their communication devices through well-crafted marketing strategies and shell companies. The agents, referred to as Michael and Gabriel, asserted, "We created a pretend world," showcasing the deception involved.
Over the years, Mossad gained access to Hezbollah's supply chain, establishing fake businesses coupled with aggressive sales pitches meant to appear genuine. This tactical sophistication reached its apex on September 17 and 18, 2024, when the devices—with explosives embedded—were triggered remotely. Simultaneously, pagers activated across Lebanon, resulting in intense explosions.
The explosive devices were acknowledged by Hezbollah as integral parts of their communication network, primarily used to avoid detection by their enemies. Michael noted the manipulation was so thorough, Hezbollah militants purchased approximately 16,000 walkie-talkies and 5,000 pagers from Mossad-operated companies without ever realizing they were funding their adversaries. The trigger mechanisms were thoughtfully crafted, allowing for detonation through seemingly harmless actions.
"When they are buying from us, they have zero clue they are buying from the Mossad," Gabriel explained, likening the entire scenario to the 1998 film, The Truman Show. The Mossad agents described how they ensured each device had potential for maximum damage to its handlers, citing rigorous testing of explosive amounts and even the ringtone to induce urgency.
The tragic outcome of this operation, which claimed the lives of at least 30 militants, also resulted in injurious impacts on civilians, with reports detailing the devastation experienced by families—such as the case of eight-year-old Fatima Abdullah. She tragically lost her life when the explodable pager she picked up detonated, illustrating the far-reaching impact of this operation beyond military targets.
This operation also wrought fear throughout Lebanon, transforming everyday life. Michael stated, "People in Lebanon were afraid to turn on their air conditioners, fearing they might explode." The psychological ramifications of the attack were strategically aimed to instill vulnerability within the Lebanese populace, effectively sending a clear message of Israel's capacity to strike.
The strike came amid heightened tensions following Hamas' major offensive on Israel, which led to escalated military responses from Israel across the region. Following the pager bombings, Israeli airstrikes intensified, targeting Hezbollah positions throughout Lebanon and resulting in thousands of casualties.
By November, the warfare culminated with a ceasefire agreement, yet the humanitarian crises continued to grow, with staggering losses reported among Palestinian populations and significant destruction across the region. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's assassination during the subsequent airstrikes symbolized the dramatic shifts occurring within the militant group.
Despite the operational success, the former agents reflected on their methods and acknowledged the unpredictability of their future endeavors. "We can’t use the pagers again," Michael stated, indicating the continual evolution of tactics needed to remain effective against Hezbollah and other foes.
Overall, this sophisticated attack by Mossad reveals not only the agency's operational capabilities but also highlights the changing dynamics of conflict within the region, where psychological warfare is becoming as significant as traditional military engagements. The case poses challenging questions about the ethics of such operations and their impact on civilian populations caught in the crossfire.
With the close of this chapter, both sides seem poised for new strategies and battlefield tactics, projecting uncertainty over the region’s future stability, as the specter of past operations continues to linger over any peace negotiations.
