There was a moment, in late September 2024, when Hezbollah was in complete disarray.
Eighty Israeli bombs had obliterated the Lebanese movement’s headquarters. Several of its most senior leaders were dead, including Hassan Nasrallah, who it appeared had been tracked down by the Israelis and was not safe even 60 feet underground.
Not only did Hezbollah commanders suspect the Israelis had hacked their phones and were aware of everything they were saying and doing, but Israel had also booby-trapped thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies to devastating effect.
So, the surviving commanders ditched their phones, mounted motorbikes and scooters, and sped around Haret Hreik, Chia and other neighbourhoods that make up the southern suburbs of Beirut colloquially known as Dahieh.
Everything was compromised. If Nasrallah wasn’t safe, then no one was.