Israel Eliminated Hezbollah Operative Suspected in Pager Bombing, Kept Secret

A new film, "Paging Hezbollah," set to premiere in the U.S. on October 30th, reveals previously undisclosed details about Israel's operation to neutralize Hezbollah's pager communication network in September 2024. The film, directed by Justin Pollack, features interviews with Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Mossad chief David Barnea, and former Northern Command chief Yair Golan.

Among the revelations is that Israel assassinated a Hezbollah operative suspected of investigating the pagers and their potential vulnerabilities. This operative was killed alongside another individual, with the operation disguised. Additionally, Israel bombed a shipment of screening machines from Iran destined for Lebanon, also concealing the true target of the strike.

These details were previously shared by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in an interview with Channel 12 about 18 months ago but were censored at the time. Gallant recounted that by the first week of August, "there was someone who suspected the pagers." He added, "we eliminated him, alongside someone else, under various pretexts." He also mentioned that inspection devices intended to examine the pagers were later destroyed by Israel along with other items.

The film reportedly details how Israel infiltrated Hezbollah's communication network through device engineering and supply chain manipulation. It also explains how Israel convinced Hezbollah operatives to adopt technology that they believed was secure. The operation, according to the film, was the result of years of planning and deception, not a hasty attack, and traces the devices' design, marketing, and smuggling before Hezbollah realized what had happened.