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In a bombshell interview aired on CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, two former Mossad agents unveiled details of the audacious Israeli counterintelligence operation known as the “Pager Plot.”
Executed on September 17, 2024, the operation delivered a devastating blow to Hezbollah, causing chaos and inflicting widespread damage on the organization.
The plan involved selling thousands of tampered pagers to Hezbollah, devices rigged with explosives that were later detonated remotely by Mossad.
The operation marked a turning point in Israel’s battle against its regional adversaries, with ripple effects felt across the Middle East.
Decades of Preparation and Ingenious Strategy
The roots of the Pager Plot stretch back more than a decade. During the interview, “Michael,” a former Mossad case officer whose identity was concealed, revealed how the Israeli intelligence agency had weaponized everyday devices to target Hezbollah operatives.
“A walkie-talkie was a weapon just like a bullet or a missile,” Michael said, detailing how Mossad initially embedded explosive devices in walkie-talkie batteries. These devices, sold covertly to Hezbollah operatives, became a covert tool in Mossad’s arsenal.
The operation escalated with the introduction of modified pagers by 2022. “Hezbollah still uses pagers because they’re simple and difficult to hack,” explained “Gabriel,” another former Mossad agent.
Gabriel’s team spent months embedding explosives into commercially available pagers while ensuring they remained functional. The devices were tested rigorously to limit harm to bystanders and maximize their impact on targets.
Selling the Plot
To make the bulky pagers appealing to Hezbollah, Mossad launched an elaborate marketing campaign. They produced fake YouTube advertisements touting the devices as “robust, dustproof, and waterproof.” Gabriel recounted how they faced initial skepticism within Mossad.
“Our director told us, ‘There is no chance anyone will buy such a big device,’” Gabriel recalled. However, after weeks of persuasion, the plan moved forward.
Using a network of intermediaries and shell companies, Mossad successfully sold the devices to Hezbollah, which remained unaware of their true origin.
The Moment of Activation
On September 17, 2024, at precisely 3:30 p.m., Mossad remotely activated the explosive pagers across Lebanon.
According to CBS News, operatives carrying the devices received an encrypted message instructing them to press two buttons, triggering the explosions. “If they didn’t push the buttons, it would still explode,” Gabriel revealed.
The simultaneous blasts caused widespread mayhem. Hospitals in Lebanon were overwhelmed by thousands of injured fighters. Michael emphasized the psychological toll of the operation, recounting how fear gripped Hezbollah operatives.
“People were afraid to turn on their air conditioners the next day because they thought they might explode,” he said.
The psychological warfare continued the following day when Mossad detonated dormant walkie-talkies that had been inactive for over a decade.
Some of these devices exploded during funerals for those killed by the pagers, compounding the chaos.
In total, the operations injured approximately 3,000 Hezbollah operatives, killed 30, and left the organization demoralized. “The aim wasn’t to kill,” Gabriel explained. “It was to leave Hezbollah with thousands of wounded, proof of our superiority.”
Ripple Effects Across the Region
The Pager Plot’s impact extended beyond Hezbollah. CBS News reported that the operation significantly weakened Iran’s influence in the region by crippling its most powerful proxy.
Syria, another ally of Hezbollah, also faced destabilization, contributing to the eventual collapse of the Assad regime.
“Hezbollah is looking around and realizing they are isolated,” Michael said. The operation also had ramifications in Gaza, where Israel’s adversaries reportedly reconsidered their strategies in the wake of the devastating blow dealt to Hezbollah.
Ten days after the operation, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his bunker.
According to Gabriel, the psychological impact of the Pager Plot left Nasrallah’s remaining forces demoralized.
Ethical Concerns and Strategic Triumph
While the operation was hailed as a strategic triumph for Israel, it raised ethical questions. “What about Israel’s moral reputation?” asked 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl during the interview.
“There is a prioritization,” Gabriel responded. “First, you defend your people, then you worry about reputation.”
The operation highlighted Mossad’s ability to wage psychological warfare with precision and ingenuity. “We can’t use pagers again,” Gabriel admitted, “but they’ll have to keep guessing what’s next.”
A Lasting Impact
For Israel, the Pager Plot symbolized a turning point in its ongoing battle against Hezbollah and other regional adversaries. The operation restored a sense of security among Israelis while sending a powerful message to its enemies.
“These wounded fighters are walking proof of our superiority,” Gabriel said. The operation left a lasting legacy, reshaping the balance of power in the region and underscoring Mossad’s reputation as one of the most formidable intelligence agencies in the world.
As the fallout from the Pager Plot continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which nations will go to protect their security—and the cost of misjudging an adversary’s ingenuity.