Israel May Repeat 'Operation Grim Beeper' Style Attack If Iran War Erupts, Sources Say
Former Mossad official says Israel has 'cards in the sleeve' as US sends third aircraft carrier to Middle East and tensions escalate.
As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise, a former top Mossad official has suggested that Israel could carry out a dramatic attack similar to its 2024 'Operation Grim Beeper' if war breaks out. Oded Ailam, former deputy head of global operations at Mossad, told The New York Post that such a move remains 'fully on the table' and is characteristic of Israeli strategy.
The original operation, executed on September 17-18, 2024, involved the detonation of thousands of explosive-rigged pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon and Syria. The attack killed dozens, injured thousands, and significantly weakened the group. Ailam described it as 'the bread and butter of Israeli strategy' involving 'surprise twists and turns, unexpected moves.'
The speculation comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Middle East. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is heading to the region to join two other carrier task forces already there: the USS George Washington and the USS George W. Bush. President Trump has warned that 'all hell could break loose' and told a Kansas City radio station that the war is 'going to get wrapped up soon,' without providing details.
Lawmakers have weighed in on the potential conflict. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a critic of the war, said he had been briefed on detailed planning and warned that the plan is 'insane' and could lead to devastating escalation. He mentioned civilian infrastructure that may be targeted but did not provide specifics. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) predicted the war would end shortly after the midterm elections, saying he 'would not want to be anywhere close to Iran.'
According to Ailam, Iran's political leadership—including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, and newly-installed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei—are figureheads, with the country actually ruled by a military quadrumvirate. He suggested that if war erupts, these four hard-liners could become targets.
