Lebanon hit by 80,000 Israeli threatening calls in a single day amid brutal attacks
Beirut (Quds News Network)- Lebanon faced an unprecedented wave of 80,000 Israeli phone calls on Monday ordering residents to leave their homes. The head of Lebanon’s telecommunications company Ogero, Imad Kreidieh, described the mass calls as a form of psychological warfare aimed at creating panic and chaos.
Many Lebanese citizens reported receiving these Israeli threatening calls through both mobile and landline networks, cautioning them to leave their locations immediately. This mass communication is seen as a precursor to broader military operations in the ongoing Israeli assault against Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, citizens in Beirut and other regions received these Israeli evacuation warnings.
In response, Lebanese Minister of Information Ziad Makari said that his office also received an automated call demanding the evacuation of the building. He condemned these actions, labeling them a form of psychological warfare, and assured the public that they have no significant impact on Lebanon’s resolve.
Minister Makari stated, “This is nothing new from the Israeli enemy, which resorts to all forms of psychological tactics in its warfare.” He emphasized that the Ministry of Information’s operations are continuing normally, and urged citizens not to give the matter undue attention.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military warned residents of southern Lebanese villages via social media platform X, using an animation video, advising them to avoid buildings allegedly associated with Hezbollah or including weapons. No clear evidence was provided by Israel that Hezbollah hides weapons in residential buildings.
Experts believe that, in addition to spreading fear, Israel is attempting to shift blame in the event of civilian casualties, potentially as a defense in international legal cases related to war crimes, particularly regarding its ongoing military actions in Gaza.
Deep-Rooted Spy Networks and Psychological Warfare
Experts believe that Israel’s intelligence operations in Lebanon are not limited to military targets. Through its technological superiority, Israel has gained access to vast amounts of personal data on Lebanese civilians. Elijah Magnier, a risk and conflict analyst, told Al Jazeera that Israel has long been able to monitor landlines, mobile phones, and even car plate numbers. This level of access allows Israeli forces to communicate with Lebanese civilians, often warning them of impending military strikes — as seen in the current conflict.
Moreover, the warnings themselves are part of a broader psychological strategy. By delivering these messages via hacked radio and telecom networks, Israel reminds the Lebanese population of its far-reaching surveillance capabilities, often sowing confusion and fear in the process.
Israel’s history of hacking into Lebanese networks is well-documented. In 2018, Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations accused Israel of hacking mobile phone lines in the village of Kafr Kila. Israel had sent recorded messages to civilians, warning them of impending explosions. These tactics, while often framed as efforts to minimize civilian casualties, also serve to assert Israel’s dominance in electronic warfare.
