Israel's intelligence services carried out a second wave of clandestine operations this week, detonating thousands of walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, further destabilizing the militant group's command structure. This follows Tuesday's explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah members, marking one of the most significant security breaches in the group's history.
According to sources familiar with the operation, the walkie-talkies were booby-trapped by Israeli intelligence before being integrated into Hezbollah's communication systems. The devices, which were intended for emergency use during wartime with Israel, were strategically targeted to cripple the group's military command and control networks. As a result, multiple explosions were reported across Lebanon, particularly in Beirut and the southern regions of the country.
At least three people were killed in the walkie-talkie blasts on Wednesday, with dozens more wounded. A security source confirmed that one of the explosions occurred near a funeral for Hezbollah members killed in the pager attack the previous day. Hezbollah's leadership, already reeling from the initial attack, now faces further disruption within its ranks, as paranoia and fear mount among its members.
Videos circulating on social media, verified by multiple outlets, depict chaotic scenes following the blasts, with injured individuals, including Hezbollah fighters, being treated for wounds ranging from missing fingers to severe burns. The explosions struck both residential and military sites, leading to widespread evacuations and further destabilizing the region.
Sources indicate that Israel's goal with this second wave of attacks was to increase pressure on Hezbollah to reconsider its involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel. "The objective was to convince Hezbollah that it's in their interest to distance themselves from Hamas and negotiate a separate deal with Israel, irrespective of a ceasefire in Gaza," said one source with knowledge of the operation. The explosions are seen as part of a broader strategy by Israel to weaken Hezbollah's resolve and limit its military capabilities.
The operation comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, exacerbated by the ongoing Gaza conflict. Hezbollah had previously vowed to retaliate against Israel for the pager detonations, which killed nine people and injured nearly 3,000, including many of the group's fighters. However, with both its communications infrastructure and command systems severely compromised, Hezbollah's ability to launch a coordinated response may be hindered.
Israel has not officially commented on the operations, maintaining its policy of ambiguity regarding covert actions. However, analysts have pointed out that these recent strikes demonstrate Israel's continued ability to infiltrate Hezbollah's ranks and disrupt its military operations from within.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken clarified that the United States had no involvement or prior knowledge of the pager attacks, urging all parties to avoid escalating the conflict. Blinken's comments followed calls from international leaders for restraint, as fears of a broader regional war involving Iran and other Middle Eastern actors continue to grow.
Hezbollah, which has long relied on low-tech communication methods such as walkie-talkies and pagers to evade Israeli surveillance, has found its systems compromised in what some insiders describe as the group's largest security failure to date. The attacks raise questions about the organization's vulnerability and Israel's intelligence capabilities in the ongoing conflict.
The bombings also coincide with broader geopolitical shifts, as Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi accused Israel of escalating tensions in the region. "Hezbollah wants to avoid an all-out war," said Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center. "But given the scale of the attack and its impact on families and civilians, there will be pressure for a stronger response."
As Hezbollah grapples with the fallout from these devastating blows, Israel's strategy of targeting the group's communication networks has effectively thrown Hezbollah into disarray, casting uncertainty over its ability to wage further attacks or support Hamas in Gaza.
