Details of a clandestine operation that used exploding electronic devices, particularly pagers and walkie-talkies, to target Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Syria have been made public by two retired Israeli intelligence officers. In an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” the agents discussed this long-planned operation, hiding their identities for their own safety.
According to reports, the operation started ten years ago when Israeli intelligence, notably Mossad, placed explosives in walkie-talkies that Hezbollah had unintentionally bought. Shortly after a set of explosive pagers were triggered on September 17, the devices were detonated in September 2024. These pagers caused widespread confusion and terror among Hezbollah operatives since they were made to detonate even if the user did not engage with them.
Walkie-talkies with explosives placed in them were used in the initiative’s initial phase, which began about ten years ago. When Mossad discovered that Hezbollah was purchasing pagers from a Taiwanese manufacturer in 2022, the second phase got underway.
Using deceptive marketing techniques, such as phony YouTube advertising, the agents produced fraudulent advertisements portraying modified pagers that could hold explosives as superior in quality—dustproof and waterproof—in an attempt to persuade Hezbollah to convert to these devices.
The pagers started beeping all throughout Lebanon on September 17, which sparked explosions that left hundreds maimed and about 30 dead. The walkie-talkies were set off the following day, some of them at pager blast victims’ funerals. In addition to causing casualties, this strategy sought to inspire fear and show that Israel could strike whenever it wanted.
The agents stressed that the goal of the operation was to make Hezbollah members feel vulnerable. They pointed out that the objective was not just to kill agents but also to send a message; wounded fighters would need medical attention, which would put a strain on Hezbollah’s capacity.
Israel carried out airstrikes throughout Lebanon in the wake of these attacks, causing a large number of victims. After Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which had already raised tensions in the area, the fighting intensified much further. After fierce warfare, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024.
This operation demonstrates the extent to which intelligence services can use sophisticated psychological techniques in addition to conventional military tactics in contemporary combat.
