New information has been revealed about the Israeli intelligence service’s operation targeting members of Hezbollah using exploding pagers and walkie-talkies in September. The operation was detailed by two retired senior Mossad agents who spoke with 60 Minutes on CBS. The agents, named “Michael” and “Gabriel,” wore masks and used false names during the interview.
The first wave of explosions on September 17 targeted pagers used by Hezbollah, triggered by a specific message that appeared to come from Hezbollah leadership. The detonation occurred shortly after. The following day, a second wave targeted walkie-talkies used by the militant group. Thousands of devices were targeted in total.
The operation took years to plan, with the Mossad agents playing key roles. The walkie-talkies were weaponized over a decade before the attacks, with batteries made in Israel and placed in over 16,000 devices. The devices were sold to Hezbollah through shell companies at a low price to avoid suspicion.
The pagers, seen as more reliable weapons, were discovered to be purchased from a Taiwan-based company. Mossad ran extensive tests to ensure the explosives fit in the pagers without arousing suspicion. The operation also involved an advertising campaign to attract Hezbollah members to the devices.
The detonations caused panic in Lebanon, resulting in around 30 deaths and 3,000 injuries. The attacks significantly weakened Hezbollah’s leadership and command structure, leading to further Israeli Air Force strikes across Lebanon. The operation ultimately led to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a ceasefire with the group in November.
The success of the operation against Hezbollah, along with ongoing campaigns against Hamas and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, has prompted discussions of a changing order in the region by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.