How Israel’s ‘Operation Grim Beeper’ rattled global spy chiefs

Israeli executives were initially pleased with a covert operation involving exploding pagers that targeted Hizbollah militants in Lebanon, but were later criticized by a former European spymaster for being illegal and disproportionate. The operation, known as “Operation Grim Beeper,” killed 37 people and injured thousands, sparking a debate among western security officials about the ethics and implications of such actions. The operation has raised concerns about the vulnerability of supply chains to sabotage and the potential for copycat attacks. Despite differing opinions, some officials viewed the operation as a strategic move in the context of an ongoing conflict with Hizbollah. Western countries may criticize Israel for its disregard for civilian casualties, but the Israeli military’s aggressive tactics in Gaza and Lebanon far exceed their threshold. Israel’s focus on targeted killings for security differs from Western allies, with Israel carrying out over 2,000 operations in the early 2000s compared to the US’s less than a fifth. While the West may not approve of such operations, the unique security challenges faced by Israel shape their approach to conflict.

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