Key Points:
- Innovative Tactics: Mossad used modified walkie-talkies and pagers as explosive devices to target Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
- 10-Year Plan: Walkie-talkies embedded with explosives were supplied a decade ago and remained dormant until September 2024.
- Precise Execution: Explosions were designed to minimize collateral damage and leave a psychological impact.
- Hezbollah’s Unawareness: Devices were procured unknowingly from Israeli-controlled entities through elaborate shell companies.
- Impact: Around 30 Hezbollah members killed and 3,000 injured, creating a powerful message of deterrence.
How Mossad’s Ingenious Covert Operation Unleashed Havoc on Hezbollah in Lebanon
In one of the most audacious counterintelligence operations ever revealed, two retired Mossad agents recounted how they masterminded a decade-long strategy to target Hezbollah militants using explosive walkie-talkies and pagers. The meticulously planned operation resulted in a series of blasts across Lebanon in September 2024, killing approximately 30 Hezbollah members and injuring nearly 3,000 people, including children.
A Decade-Long Deception
The seeds of the operation were sown 10 years ago when Mossad planted explosive devices inside the batteries of walkie-talkies. These devices were sold to Hezbollah through shell companies that were impossible to trace back to Israel. Over 16,000 such walkie-talkies were supplied, lying dormant until Mossad decided to activate them.
The walkie-talkies were initially left untouched to build trust. However, as suspicions grew among Hezbollah, Mossad decided to act.
The Birth of Explosive Pagers
In 2022, Mossad identified that Hezbollah continued to use pagers an outdated technology globally. Seeing an opportunity, the agency collaborated with a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo, to embed explosives into the pagers. Shell companies were set up, including one in Hungary, to deceive the Taiwanese manufacturer and Hezbollah.
To ensure Hezbollah militants carried the pagers during the blasts, Mossad tested various ringtones and response times to optimize their design. By September 2024, Hezbollah had procured 5,000 explosive pagers, unknowingly sealing their fate.
The Deadly Activation
The operation reached its climax on September 17, 2024. At 3:30 PM, pagers across Lebanon began beeping, triggering explosions that caused widespread devastation. The following day, Mossad activated the walkie-talkies that had been dormant for a decade. Some of these went off during funerals for those killed in the pager blasts, amplifying the psychological impact.
A Message to Enemies
The retired Mossad agents explained that the operation was not solely aimed at killing militants but at creating a lasting impact.
“The goal wasn’t just to kill but to leave Hezbollah with wounded members who require care and resources,” one agent said. “Those without hands and eyes walking in Lebanon are a living testament to our message: don’t mess with us.”
The Aftermath
This operation demonstrated Mossad’s unmatched ingenuity and sent shockwaves through Hezbollah’s ranks. It also served as a reminder of Israel’s technological and strategic capabilities in countering threats in the Middle East.
The World Is a Stage for Mossad
The agents revealed how Mossad created an elaborate “pretend world” of global companies to dupe Hezbollah. “We have an incredible array of possibilities to create foreign entities that can’t be traced back to Israel,” they said.
Hezbollah’s Costly Mistake
By unknowingly arming themselves with devices from their adversaries, Hezbollah suffered one of the most devastating blows in its history. The operation showcased how intelligence, patience, and innovation could turn enemy resources against themselves.
This daring operation has left an indelible mark, not only on Hezbollah but on global intelligence and counterterrorism strategies.
