Israel Strikes Damascus, Resulting in Casualties
Israeli intelligence agencies have been accused of following Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah for months before his assassination on September 27, as reported by The New York Times. Sources claim that Israeli F-15 jets dropped bombs on Nasrallah after wiretapping Hezbollah shelters and monitoring senior commanders’ meetings from up to four meters away.
The attack, which also resulted in civilian casualties, may have been discovered when a Hezbollah technician suspected batteries in the devices provided by Israeli intelligence. Israeli officials developed plans to sabotage Hezbollah from within by providing decoy devices with explosives in their batteries, known as “buttons.”
Through a complex operation involving front companies and fake devices, Israeli intelligence successfully convinced Hezbollah to purchase pagers containing hidden explosives. Despite suspicions raised by a technician and Israeli fears of phone hacking, the plan went ahead, resulting in the detonation of radio devices used by Hezbollah.
The decision to assassinate Nasrallah was made in secret by Israeli officials who decided not to inform the Biden administration. The operation ultimately culminated in Israeli F-15 jets dropping explosives on Beirut.
The controversial actions of Israeli intelligence in targeting Hezbollah leadership have raised questions about the ethics and legality of such operations. The aftermath of Nasrallah’s assassination continues to reverberate in the region as tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran remain high.
