During Israel’s 77th Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl last Wednesday, three masked Mossad operatives identified only by the initials “R,” “D” and “N” appeared publicly for the first time. Israeli media reported that these individuals led the covert “Killer Pager Operation” targeting Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria.
“R,” a 49-year-old operations commander from central Israel, oversaw the entire mission within the Mossad’s operational division. Her responsibilities included managing agents, establishing fake infrastructure and companies and synchronizing field operations with technological, intelligence and logistical support.
During the ceremony, “R” stated:
“I am ‘R,’ an operations commander in the Mossad, a proud mother of three—including a daughter currently serving in Gaza and Lebanon. I light this torch on behalf of the men and women of Mossad operations in Israel and around the world. Through bold initiatives and relentless determination, we carry out missions that shatter the enemy’s spirit and build a strong, secure future for Israel.”
According to Israeli intelligence sources, the Mossad’s operation, codenamed “Deadly Call,” took place on September 17, 2024. It involved distributing pager devices containing hidden explosives in the batteries. These were later detonated remotely, followed by another wave of detonations using booby-trapped walkie-talkies. The dual attack reportedly killed 27 Hezbollah members and wounded hundreds.
Mossad Director David Barnea previously described the pager operation as a turning point in Israel’s shadow war with Hezbollah, claiming it dealt a major blow to the group’s morale.
“With this operation,” Barnea said, “we proved that ingenuity and deception can be mightier than brute force.”
Comments