In a stunning revelation, former agents of Israel's Mossad have detailed a covert operation that led to Hezbollah terrorists unknowingly purchasing explosive pagers. This operation, which began years earlier, culminated in a series of deadly explosions across Lebanon on September 17, 2024.

The operation, referred to as the pager plot, was a sophisticated deception reminiscent of the Trojan horse. It involved Mossad creating devices that Hezbollah fighters would carry, believing them to be harmless. The repercussions of this plot have been significant, contributing to the weakening of Hezbollah and impacting the broader geopolitical landscape, including the Assad regime in Syria and Iran's influence in the region.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, two retired Mossad agents, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, explained the origins of the operation. One agent, identified as Michael, described his role as a case officer, stating, "A case officer spearheads the operation. He is the commander of the operation." The groundwork for the pager plot was laid a decade earlier with the development of explosive walkie-talkies, which were designed to be undetectable.

Michael elaborated, "A walkie-talkie was a weapon just like a bullet or a missile or a mortar." These devices were sold to Hezbollah, who were unaware they were purchasing weapons from Israel. Over 16,000 of these walkie-talkies were sold, remaining dormant for ten years until the September operation.

The second phase of the operation involved the development of pagers, which Hezbollah was still using despite their obsolescence in other parts of the world. Another agent, referred to as Gabriel, explained how they modified the pagers to include explosives. "To make it into a bomb, we have to enlarge it a little bit. In order to put explosives inside," he said. The modifications were carefully calibrated to ensure that only the user would be harmed, minimizing collateral damage.

Mossad conducted extensive testing to ensure the devices would function as intended. Gabriel noted, "If we push the button, the only one that will get injured is the terrorist himself." The pagers were designed to emit an urgent ringtone, compelling the user to check them, which would trigger the explosion.

To convince Hezbollah to switch to the new pagers, Mossad created a false narrative around the product. Gabriel recalled, "We make advertising movies and brochures, and we put it on the internet. And it became the best product in the beeper area in the world." They set up shell companies to mask their involvement and even hired a saleswoman familiar to Hezbollah to facilitate the sale.

By September 2024, Hezbollah had acquired 5,000 of the modified pagers. As suspicions began to rise within Hezbollah, Mossad's leadership decided to activate the devices. On the afternoon of September 17, pagers across Lebanon began to beep, signaling the impending explosions.

Gabriel explained, "You have an encrypted message. In order to access it, you have to push the two buttons. Meaning that it would explode in their hands." The explosions resulted in chaos, with reports indicating about 30 fatalities, including two children, and around 3,000 injuries.

The operation did not end there. The dormant walkie-talkies were also activated the following day, leading to further devastation. Gabriel stated, "The aim wasn't killing Hezbollah terrorists. If he's just dead, so he's dead. But if he's wounded, you have to take him to the hospital, take care of him."

The fallout from this operation has left a lasting impact on Hezbollah and the region, serving as a stark reminder of the lengths to which intelligence agencies will go to achieve their objectives.