Israel pager attack in Lebanon used old spy tactic to inflict new damage
The attack on Hezbollah via exploding pagers this week, widely believed to be conducted by Israel, was a novel use of a well-trodden spy tactic.
The attack on the militant and political group Hezbollah via exploding pagers and walkie-talkies this week, widely believed to be conducted by Israel, was a novel use of a well-trodden spy tactic and a devastating intelligence blow to Hezbollah, according to experts who spoke with NBC News.
The attack killed at least 37, including two children, according to Lebanon’s health minister. The explosions also injured thousands of Hezbollah targets and civilians.
It’s taken journalists days to begin to unravel the details of how it unfolded.
As news has trickled out about the complex and deadly operation, it appears that Israeli intelligence agencies introduced the exploding devices via the supply chain to get modified devices in their targets’ hands.
While supply chain interference isn’t unheard of in the world of spies and espionage, the attack on the militant and political group Hezbollah opens a new chapter in covert operations as historically such supply chain compromises or supply chain attacks have been part of yearslong surveillance operations rather than to engineer a violent mass casualty event.
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