In the heart of Israel's military headquarters in Tel Aviv, known as the Kirya, two young intelligence officers have emerged as key figures in the ongoing war against Hezbollah. Captain D, a 25-year-old former combat soldier turned intelligence expert, and Lieutenant O, a 22-year-old rising star from Unit 8200, have spent months in "the pit," a nerve center where critical decisions shape the battlefield in Lebanon. Their mission is clear: dismantle Hezbollah's capabilities and ensure the safe return of northern Israel's residents.
Captain D, who heads the Lebanon desk in the IDF Intelligence Directorate's Operations Division, reflects on her unexpected journey. "I didn't grow up in intelligence," she says. "I served five years in the mixed-gender Carakal combat unit, but I felt the army had more to offer. I asked my brigade commander for a chance at the intelligence directorate, and somehow, I landed in the Operations Division." She laughs, recalling her initial shock at the scope of Israel's intelligence capabilities. "The commanders took a big risk on a combat officer like me, but I saw we're not pushovers here." Her role involves meticulous planning, including the September 2024 assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, which she describes as a means to a broader goal. "Everything we did, even eliminating Nasrallah, was about bringing Hezbollah to its lowest point so northern residents could return to a better reality," she tells Israel Hayom.
Lieutenant O, meanwhile, always had her sights set on the Operations Division. A product of Unit 8200, Israel's elite signals intelligence unit, she jumped at the chance to join despite it being her first role as an officer. "I knew that's where decisions are made," she explains. "I was nervous about the pressure, but I decided this was my place. You're in discussions with brigadier generals, voicing opinions, making suggestions." Her youth belies the weight of her responsibilities as she helps translate political directives into tactical actions on the ground.
The Operations Division, established after the Second Lebanon War in 2006, serves as the directorate's operational backbone. It unites various intelligence units under a single strategy, connecting the political echelon's objectives through the chief of staff to the directorate's head and down to field commanders. Located in the General Staff building, it also represents the directorate in high-level military discussions. "We're the nervous system," Lieutenant O says, emphasizing the division's dual role in planning and execution.
The turning point came on July 27, 2024, when a rocket strike killed 13 children on a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Golan Heights. "I felt the logic shift that day," Captain D recalls. "The reality had to change too." From the Kirya, a massive intelligence effort zeroed in on Hezbollah's de facto chief of staff, Fuad Shukr, deemed responsible for the attack. "We got his name, and the race began," Lieutenant O says. "We weighed the implications, held countless debates, and crafted a recommendation. It's creative, it's intense, and it's our job to give commanders everything – pros, cons, costs – so they can go to the chief of staff and prime minister." Speed was critical: turning an idea into a bomb on a plane headed for its target.
Shukr's elimination in late July was just the beginning. The mid–September pager attack, a sophisticated operation that crippled Hezbollah's communications, marked a seismic shift. "Doors opened after that," Captain D notes. "We went into high emergency mode, planning the most significant blows to destroy Hezbollah." From the pit, surrounded by representatives from across the military, they orchestrated a multi-faceted assault. "We're half a step from the General Staff's main war room," she adds. "It was a huge blow for Hezbollah, synchronized across intelligence, operations, Northern Command, and the Israeli Air Force."
Nasrallah's assassination on September 27, 2024, was a pinnacle moment. "I'll never forget it," Lieutenant O says. "We heard the countdown for the munitions drop, saw the giant smoke cloud, and knew blood-stained enemies, including Nasrallah, had paid the price." For her, it was personal. "After October 7, everyone in the army carried pain or guilt. That moment filled me with pride. I had tears in my eyes." Yet, the celebration was brief. "The division head said, 'Great job, pat yourselves on the back, but get back to work,'" she recalls. "The goal isn't achieved yet."
The campaign then targeted Hezbollah's financial and support networks. "We hit their funding bodies and executive council, which ties them to their Shiite base," Captain D. explains. The resulting "economic blow" – executed with precision and inter-agency coordination – caught Hezbollah off guard. "Seeing cash flying in the streets, knowing it won't fund the next rocket to Majdal Shams, feels incredible," she says. "We're dismantling their value chain, from the last operative to the launcher to the dollar bill."
Both officers stress creativity and adaptability. "We're not parrots," Captain D. insists. "We get a required outcome – like hitting Hezbollah economically – and maximize it with the tools we have." Lieutenant O adds, "We know every capability the IDF has, pick the right one, and offer alternatives. We also learned from the south constantly." Their work continues as they enforce a fragile ceasefire, with Lieutenant O vowing, "My job is to keep Hezbollah from raising its head."
Captain D, now discharged, reflects on the war's toll and her partnership with Lieutenant O. "There were tough moments, and I'm so glad she was with me," she says. "Her parents should know she's a rock star – she doesn't tell them anything!" For northern residents hesitant to return, she offers reassurance: "The state, the army, and our mindset have changed since October 7. We're a better army, and our mission is to prove they can live in peace for another 75 years."
