POLITICS
Spies Reveal Secret Weapon Against Hezbollah
LebanonMon Dec 23 2024
This: Israeli spies tricking Hezbollah into using booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies. It sounds like a spy movie, right? Well, it actually happened. Two former Israeli intelligence agents shared the details of this daring operation with “60 Minutes. ” The plan started a decade ago with walkie-talkies loaded with explosives. Hezbollah didn't know they were buying from Israel, their enemy.
In 2022, the plan shifted to pagers. The Mossad intelligence agency found out Hezbollah was buying these from a Taiwanese company. The agents had to make the pagers a bit bigger to fit the explosives. They tested them on dummies to ensure only the Hezbollah fighter got hurt.
Mossad used shell companies and fake YouTube ads to trick the Taiwanese firm into working with them. Hezbollah had no idea they were dealing with Israel. By September, Hezbollah militants had 5, 000 of these pagers.
Israel triggered the attack on September 17, when the pagers started beeping and exploding. The next day, the walkie-talkies were activated, some exploding at funerals. The goal wasn't just to kill, but to send a message. Wounded fighters became living proof of Israel's superiority.
After the attack, Israel's air force struck across Lebanon, killing thousands. Hezbollah's leader was assassinated. The war ended in November with a ceasefire. Over 45, 000 Palestinians died in the Gaza conflict.
One agent said people in Lebanon feared turning on their air conditioners. The agents wanted Hezbollah to feel vulnerable and always guess their next move.
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questions
Was the attack on Hezbollah a false flag operation to justify a larger military action?
How does the use of such tactics align with international laws and human rights standards?
Did the Mossad agents ever consider using exploding fidget spinners instead of pagers?