Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi lauded Israel's recent operation targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon as a "masterstroke" of strategic planning.
Speaking at the Chanakya Defence Dialogues, General Dwivedi highlighted the complexity and long-term preparation involved in the operation, which involved setting up a shell company to manufacture and distribute rigged "explosive pagers" to Hezbollah members.
"The war does not start the day you start fighting, it starts the day you start planning," General Dwivedi emphasized, drawing attention to the years of groundwork undertaken by Israel.
He explained how Israel strategically shifted its military focus from Hamas in the Gaza Strip to Hezbollah in Lebanon, effectively neutralizing both threats.
The operation, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 40 Hezbollah members, including top commanders like Hassan Nasrallah, involved planting small explosives within pagers and walkie-talkies before they were shipped to Lebanon.
Three Israeli intelligence officers confirmed to the New York Times that Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, orchestrated the creation of the shell company to facilitate this "supply chain attack."
General Dwivedi stressed the importance of vigilance against such tactics, urging India to strengthen its inspection protocols at both technological and manual levels to prevent similar security breaches. "Supply chain interruption, interception is something we have to be very watchful of," he cautioned.
This incident has sparked widespread discussion about the evolving nature of warfare and the vulnerabilities of global supply chains. Experts are calling this a sophisticated example of a "supply chain attack," raising concerns about the potential for similar tactics to be employed in other conflicts.
The attack has significantly weakened Hezbollah, marking its biggest security breach since the start of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in October 2023. It also underscores the increasing use of unconventional tactics and advanced technology in modern warfare.
