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In an “unprecedented” operation described as the most cunning in intelligence history, the Washington Post revealed details of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad’s plan to sell booby-trapped pagers to Lebanese Hezbollah through a complex network of intermediaries.
The operation killed and wounded thousands of Hezbollah fighters, pushing the region to the brink of a wider conflict.
Booby-trapped devices
According to what the newspaper reported on Sunday, the operation began in 2022 when the Mossad began meticulously planning it.
The Mossad used a network of intermediaries to transfer these devices to Hezbollah, and the devices were presented as ordinary and unhackable communications equipment, removing any doubts about their true origin. In reality, the pagers were manufactured in Israel under the direct supervision of the Mossad.
Despite Hezbollah’s belief that these devices were safe, they contained micro-explosives hidden inside their batteries. These explosives were designed in such a complex way that they were difficult to detect even when the device was disassembled, reflecting an advanced level of sophistication in planning and execution.
The idea for the operation dates back to 2015, when the Mossad introduced booby-trapped walkie-talkies into Lebanon. The main purpose of the devices was to eavesdrop on Hezbollah’s communications, and Israel continued to spy on those communications for nine years.
During that time, the Mossad retained the option to turn these devices into explosive devices at any time, and this option was ready to be implemented when the need arose. In 2023, the second phase of the plan began after Hezbollah was persuaded to purchase pagers under a Taiwanese brand called Apollo, removing any suspicion that these devices could be linked to Israel.
The pagers were marketed through Hezbollah’s trusted marketer, presenting them as an ideal choice for secure communications thanks to their rugged design, ability to withstand harsh conditions, and long battery life.
By February 2023, Hezbollah had purchased 5,000 of these devices and distributed them to its field operatives. However, these devices contained carefully concealed explosive charges, and neither the middleman nor Hezbollah were aware that the devices were manufactured in Israel under the supervision of the Mossad.
Coordinated bombing
On September 17, 2024, the Mossad activated the final phase of the plan, detonating thousands of booby-trapped pagers in a single moment via a remotely transmitted electronic signal.
The devices were designed so that the user was forced to use both hands to open the encrypted messages, making it nearly impossible to avoid the blast. These coordinated bombings killed or wounded about 3,000 Hezbollah members, mostly non-commanders, as well as an unknown number of civilians who were near the fighters when the bombings occurred.
These bombings were not just a tactical blow to Hezbollah; they were part of a long-term Israeli strategic plan aimed at dismantling the group from within. The success of this operation prompted the Israeli leadership to consider bolder steps, such as targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
However, the risk of a possible Iranian response made this option controversial within Israeli political and security circles, leading to debates about the wisdom of going ahead with such a move.
Nasrallah’s death
On September 27, 2024, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Hezbollah headquarters, including command centers and logistical bases in Beirut. The next day, Hezbollah officially announced that its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had been killed in the strikes, which was seen as a major turning point in the course of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Nasrallah’s death was not only an organizational blow to Hezbollah, but also had an enormous impact on the balance of power in the region. Many analysts considered that Nasrallah’s departure opens the door to strategic changes that could redraw the political and security map of the Middle East.
In the aftermath of Nasrallah’s death, the response came quickly from Iran, which fired some 180 rockets at Israel the next day. Iran warned of an even greater escalation if Israeli military operations against Hezbollah continued, raising tensions in the region, while the growing conflict between the parties puts the region on the brink of a wider confrontation, with continued warnings of dangerous developments in the near future.
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