Two senior Israeli intelligence agents, who spoke with CBS “60 Minutes” under disguise, revealed details about a deadly operation targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria using exploding pagers and walkie-talkies. The operation began 10 years ago, initially using walkie-talkies with hidden explosives, which Hezbollah unknowingly bought from Israel.
The plan, codenamed “Phase Two,” used booby-trapped pagers that were made larger to accommodate the explosives and tested on dummies before being deployed. Mossad also created fake ads on YouTube to promote the devices as durable and long-lasting, convincing Hezbollah to switch to them.
Hezbollah was unaware it was working with Israel. The agents described using shell companies in Hungary to dupe a Taiwanese firm into partnering with the Mossad. The goal of the operation was not to kill all Hezbollah fighters but to create fear and send a message.
The attack triggered by pagers resulted in 30 deaths, including some at funerals. Mossad activated walkie-talkies on September 18, causing explosions that killed thousands more. Israel’s air force then targeted Lebanon, killing many and assassinating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The agents’ words were laced with a sense of superiority and a desire to instill fear in the region. They claimed their next move would be difficult for Hezbollah to detect, leaving them vulnerable.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-devices-exploding-mossad-cbs-hezbollah-b008d92e6c9f0747f23def9bf3a5e3df