BEIRUT — "Since 2006, the Mossad has been preparing for the third war in Lebanon," said its chief, David Barnea, according to several Israeli media outlets, including Haaretz.

The head of Israeli intelligence spoke publicly at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. The Mossad's technological unit was receiving an award for its role in the attack on Hezbollah's pagers and walkie-talkies, which was a key moment in the war between Israel and the party, from Oct. 8, 2023, until the cease-fire took effect on Nov. 27.

The two previous wars Barnea referred to are the Israeli invasion of 1982 — before Hezbollah was even created — and the war in July 2006. There were other more limited Israeli military operations during this period, including the one called "Grapes of Wrath" in April 1996, during which the Qana massacre occurred.

These simultaneous mass explosions of electronic devices, remotely triggered in two waves on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024, in Lebanon and Syria, resulted in more than 2,931 injuries and at least 37 deaths, including civilians. In their wake, Israel launched its offensive against Hezbollah forces across Lebanon, mainly in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and Beirut's southern suburbs.

The assassinations of the party's secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, and his designated successor, Hashem Safeddine, on Sept. 27 and Oct. 3, in two violent strikes, were also significant points in this war. Nasrallah was killed after he had agreed to a cease-fire, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. The war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon.

"One can draw a clear line from the beepers to the assassination of Nasrallah, to the signing of the cease-fire agreement," stated Barnea. He added, without providing more details for confirmation, that the Mossad understood this war with Lebanon would be "different from the others" and accused Iran of planning "to again eliminate Jews as Purim approached," a Jewish religious holiday that occurs in March.

"There is no more supreme mission than bringing back the hostages," continued Barnea, referring to the 63 captives still held by Hamas in Gaza, whose release is central to the negotiations of the second phase of the cease-fire between the Palestinian movement and Israel.

The war was triggered by a Hamas offensive on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in just over 1,200 Israeli deaths, compared to nearly 50,000 Palestinian fatalities under Israeli bombs. Barnea actively participated in the negotiations that led to the cease-fire.