Retired Mossad agents reveal how they sold explosive pagers to terrorists
- Israel's Mossad spent a decade developing an operation to target Hezbollah leaders using modified pagers.
- The operation, which unfolded in September 2023, resulted in dozens of Hezbollah fatalities and significant injuries.
- The success of this covert plot has now shifted the strategic dynamics in the region, impacting Hezbollah’s command and morale.
In September 2023, Israel launched a meticulously planned operation targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria. The operation, orchestrated by the Mossad secret agency, involved the use of modified pagers designed to explode and kill high-ranking members of the militant group. The plan had been in the works for over ten years, with former agents revealing that the operation began with convincing Hezbollah operatives to purchase seemingly innocuous walkie-talkies. Over two days of strategic attacks, dozens of Hezbollah figures were killed, contributing to significant turmoil within the organization and reverberating effects on regional dynamics. The retired Mossad agents detailed the psychological warfare aspect of the campaign, intending to instill fear and a sense of vulnerability among Hezbollah fighters. The implications of the operation were profound, disrupting Hezbollah's command structure and morale, while simultaneously aiding in regional goals against Iran's influence and the Assad regime in Syria. This showcase of intelligence and deception not only signaled Israel's capability in counterintelligence but also reshaped the strategic landscape, forcing adversaries to reassess and adapt their tactics. The operation also raised ethical questions regarding the lengths to which intelligence agencies might go to achieve national security goals. By recruiting unsuspecting members of Hezbollah and infiltrating their ranks, the Mossad highlighted the blurred lines in modern warfare between espionage and outright assassination. The operation's success was marked not only by the physical impact on Hezbollah’s leadership but also by its psychological ramifications on the fighters who began to see themselves as vulnerable targets. As Hezbollah reeled from the attacks, the operation underscored a shift in Israel's approach to combat against its adversaries, favoring psychological and technology-driven methods over traditional military engagement. The fallout from this carefully executed scheme is expected to have lasting effects on how various militant groups operate, particularly in their responses to perceived threats. Analysts speculate that the ripples may even extend to Hamas amid escalating tensions in the region, as the balance of power continues to evolve following these dramatic events.