Israel Eliminated Hezbollah Operative Suspected in Pager Bomb Plot

A new film, "Paging Hezbollah," set to premiere in the U.S. on October 30, reveals previously censored details about Israel's covert operation targeting Hezbollah's pager network in September 2024. The operation, known as the "pager explosions," involved Israel infiltrating Hezbollah's communication systems and convincing operatives to adopt seemingly secure technology.

Among the newly declassified information is the revelation that Israel assassinated a Hezbollah operative suspected of investigating the pager devices. This operative was killed alongside another individual under different pretenses, with the true target of the strike kept secret. Additionally, Israel bombed a shipment of screening machines that arrived in Lebanon from Iran, again concealing the true objective of the attack.

These details were previously shared by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in an interview with Channel 12 about a year and a half ago but were then subject to military censorship. The information is now cleared for publication by the military censor.

Gallant recounted that by the first week of August, Hezbollah's suspicions about the pagers became apparent. "We eliminated him, alongside someone else, under various pretexts," Gallant stated, referring to the suspected operative. He also mentioned the subsequent destruction of inspection devices intended to examine the pagers, along with other materials.

The film features interviews with Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Mossad chief David Barnea, and former head of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. (res.) Ori Gordon. The filmmakers claim the documentary will detail how Israel penetrated Hezbollah's network through device engineering and supply chain manipulation, and how they persuaded operatives to use technology that appeared safe. The operation, the film suggests, was the result of years of planning and deception, not a hasty strike, and will trace the devices' design, marketing, and smuggling before Hezbollah realized what had occurred.