Hezbollah’s media office reported on Tuesday that Israel dropped leaflets containing a “very dangerous” barcode in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. According to Hezbollah, scanning the barcode could potentially “withdraw all information” from any device used to read it.
The leaflets were reportedly dropped over Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, a region that has long been known as a Hezbollah stronghold. Hezbollah did not specify what, if anything, was written on the flyers besides the barcode. It is also unclear how many leaflets were dropped or if there were any attempts by local residents to scan the barcodes. The organization’s media office issued a warning to residents not to interact with the leaflets or scan the code to prevent any potential security breaches on their devices.
There has been no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding these allegations. Israel has not commented on the matter, and it remains unclear if the leaflets were part of a deliberate strategy or an attempt at information gathering. Without confirmation from Israeli authorities, the details and intent behind the distribution of the leaflets remain speculative.
Experts have noted that such tactics, if confirmed, would represent a new dimension in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, incorporating cyber elements alongside conventional military strategies. Using digital means to gather intelligence or sow fear would mark an escalation in the psychological operations (PSYOPS) typically associated with information warfare in the region .
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