Behind the scenes of the Mossad paging operation that devastated Hezbollah - Defense News

Two elders Mossad agents revealed details of one of Israel’s most daring counterintelligence operations, the “Pager Plot,” in a 60 Minutes interview broadcast Sunday. Executed on September 17, 2024, plan involved the sale to Hezbollah of thousands of rigged pagers, disguised as high-performance devices, which Mossad then detonated, causing widespread chaos and serious damage to the organization.

The operation has started more than ten years agothe Mossad having initially used walkie-talkies sold to Hezbollah as weapons. “A walkie-talkie was a weapon like a bullet or a missile,” said “Michael,” a former Mossad case manager whose identity was withheld during the interview. “Inside the battery there is an explosive device…made in Israel.”

The agents revealed to 60 Minutes how Mossad developed front companies sell these devices in secret. “We’re creating a fantasy world,” Michael said. “We are the directors, producers and main actors; the world is our stage.” He explained this fake world as being similar to “The Truman Show”, similar to the 1998 hit film, starring Jim Carrey, living since birth in a huge television studio, filled with live cameras broadcasting to the world .

From walkie talkies to pagers

In 2022, Mossad focused on pagers, which Hezbollah used extensively to communicate. “Hezbollah still uses pagers because they are simple and difficult to hack,” said “Gabriel,” another former Mossad agent interviewed by CBS News. Gabriel’s team modified commercially available pagers, incorporating explosives while retaining their functionality. They even conducted extensive testing to ensure that the device only harmed its user and not passersby.

To make bulky pagers attractive, Mossad created a marketing campaign with fake YouTube ads touting them as “rugged, dustproof and waterproof”. Gabriel remembers his superiors’ skepticism: “Our manager told us, ‘There’s no way anyone would buy something that big.’ It took two weeks to convince him.” Ultimately, the pagers were sold to Hezbollah through intermediaries, without the terrorist group knowing their origin.

Timing of activation

On September 17, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., Mossad remotely activated explosive pagers across Lebanon. According to CBS News, wearers of the devices received an encrypted message asking them to press two buttons, triggering the explosion. “If they didn’t push the buttons, it would still explode,” Gabriel said.

The coordinated explosions caused chaos, with hospitals overwhelmed by thousands of wounded fighters. “People were afraid to turn on their air conditioner the next day because they thought it might explode,” Michael said, highlighting the psychological toll.

The day after the pager exploded, Mossad activated the walkie-talkies that had been dormant for more than a decade. Some left at the funerals of people killed by pagers. In total, the operations injured around 3,000 Hezbollah members, killed 30 and left the organization demoralized. “The goal was not to kill,” Gabriel told CBS News. “It was leaving Hezbollah with thousands of wounded, proof of our superiority.”

The operation marks a turning point in the war. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah appeared moderate in a speech a few days later. “His soldiers saw a broken leader,” Gabriel said. According to 60 Minutes, Nasrallah’s bunker was bombed ten days later, leading to his death.

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Wider regional implications

The consequences extended beyond Lebanon. CBS News reported that the operation weakened Iran’s influence in the region by crippling Hezbollah, its most powerful proxy. The operation also destabilized Syria, contributing to the collapse of the Assad regime. “Hezbollah looks around and realizes that it is isolated,” Michael said, stressing that the operation also had consequences for Gaza.

Although the operation strengthened Israel’s strategic position, it raised ethical concerns. “What about Israel’s moral reputation? asked CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl. “There is a prioritization,” Gabriel replied. “First you defend your people, then you worry about your reputation.”

The operation highlighted Mossad’s ability to carry out psychological warfare. “We can’t use the pagers anymore,” Gabriel admitted, “but they’ll have to keep guessing what’s next.”

The 60 Minutes report highlighted the lasting impact of the operation. “These wounded fighters are tangible proof of our superiority,” Gabriel said. For Israel, the operation restored a sense of security and sent a powerful message to its adversaries: “Don’t bother us.”