Hizbullah intercepted “Israeli” Army communications during war

Source: Daily Star, 05-10-2006
BEIRUT: Hizbullah listened to "Israeli" cell phone conversations, including those of officers, as part of its extensive intelligence-gathering operation during the recent Lebanon war, according to "Israeli" daily Haaretz. In an article published Wednesday, Haaretz said Hizbullah also eavesdropped electronically on messages sent to pagers, including some which were transferred through satellite uplinks.
Just as Hizbullah improved its ability to utilize anti-tank weapons and a network of tunnels and bunkers along the border and in South Lebanon, the resistance group also made significant efforts to enhance its intelligence-gathering apparatus.
This effort was primarily aimed at gathering intelligence on "Israeli" Army units and their movements, both inside and outside "Israel", Haaretz reported.
According to Haaretz, "Israel" had identified Hizbullah`s efforts to improve its intelligence gathering before the outbreak of the war. The matter was raised with then-Premier Ariel Sharon by then-Military Intelligence chief Major General Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, who told Sharon that if "Israel" did not take countermeasures, the army`s activities would become increasingly transparent to Hizbullah.
Hizbullah manned observation posts along the border, in places such as Maroun al-Ras, which were equipped with sophisticated and expensive gear and during the war, they reported on "Israeli" soldier movements, especially inside "Israel", the article claimed. Hizbullah also tried to run agents inside "Israel".
"The group also operated listening posts, and it seems that it met with some success in this area," the article said. "For example, if a pager message was sent to reporters in northern "Israel", informing them of an expected visit by the "Israeli" Army chief of staff or defense (war) minister to a particular location, Hizbullah would most likely have intercepted this information."