by Uzi Eilam
Nimer did not bother to hide his eagerness and longing to execute the act of revenge. We’ll finally carry out the major attack, he thought, just like I promised you, Laila, my beloved wife.
For the next part of his meeting with Mughniyeh and Nimer, Yassin summoned the heads of the operational and cyber teams. Nimer was surprised by the appearance of the head of the operational team, who truly looked like a child. Could this young man command such a complex operation? Would he know how to deal with the inevitable mishaps that occur in any mission? He considered voicing his doubts, but allowed Yassin to elaborate on all the details of the plan that had been rehearsed and that would ensure, he claimed, a seamless operation. The next phase prepared by Yassin was a night maneuver in which the cars were sent off to equivalent destinations in the town and its environs. The cyber team had already prepped the cars and had input the test run’s routes in their activation systems.
“I have a new item of good news,” Yassin turned to Mughniyeh and Nimer when the three of them were left alone in his office.
“Related to our operation? Spit it out!” urged Mughniyeh, who was not fond of surprises.
“I was approached by the head of the organization protecting the senior Nazis who found shelter in the countries of South America. These are the offspring of the original SS officers, most of whom are no longer alive. The organization’s headquarters is located here, and we’d meet every once in a while…”
“And what did the man want?” Mughniyeh did not have much patience.
“He offered to help, my commander,” Yassin hurried to reply. “It’s important to remember they still want revenge on Israel due to their capture of Adolf Eichmann, who was hiding in Buenos Aires with his family under the name Ricardo Klement, and was smuggled into Israel in order to be tried and executed. In conversations with them, I’ve found common ground in many areas.”
“What did he suggest?” Mughniyeh prodded.
“Here’s the important point, Commander. They know of an Israeli intent to disrupt our operation in São Paulo…”
“What? How?” Mughniyeh roared.
“They have unusual skills when it comes to cyber technologies, aided by a technological infrastructure established by the underground cells of Germany’s extreme right. The man knows about our operation, not from me,” Yassin hurried to add, “and this, he emphasized to me, would be their way of getting revenge on Eichmann’s killers.”
“If their knowledge base originates in Germany, we have to take them seriously,” Nimer said. “We should meet the man, Imad. I can talk to him in his native language to get a better understanding of how we could make use of the organization he leads,” he suggested.
“Okay, Yassin, coordinate that meeting for Dr. Nimesdorf,” Mughniyeh instructed.
***
The meeting with Dr. Speiser, head of the Nazi cell in Brazil, ended up surprising Nimer quite a bit. Hans Speiser was revealed to be a graduate of the University of Berlin, majoring in mathematics and computers. The man was well familiar with the Iranian Dr. Jawad and had accumulated impressive experience in cyberwarfare.
“An Israeli-American team is already here,” Speiser began, not wasting any time. “They’re receiving a great deal of assistance from the Jewish community in São Paulo. From what we’ve intercepted of their communications, they know about your plan and are preparing to thwart it.”
“We’ve taken that into account,” Nimer hurried to reply, “and we have a backup plan. What do you suggest?”
“We can monitor the Israelis and update you on what we pick up. We have no intention of interfering with your plans.”
“That might help us, and I thank you for your initiative. Together we’re a lot stronger, and I hope we really can carry out our plan in full.”
***
Gideon and Dan’s night had been cut short as the flight they booked via Varig, Brazil’s national airline, had landed at midnight, and it was only in the morning that they got a chance to explore the spacious house placed at their disposal. Nahari’s representative at the Israeli Embassy, who bore the title of “scientific advisor,” told them that the house belonged to a Jewish man who was one of São Paulo’s wealthiest residents, and he had been the one to hand it over to them without asking too many questions. A high wall surrounded the well-tended garden, and vehicle could enter through the electric gate only after punching in the required code.
“Good morning, everyone,” Gideon opened the coordination meeting. “We want to thank our consulate for this house, and we’ll have to take care to stay inside it and not expose ourselves in any way. All our equipment is already here, and we can’t waste any time in installing it and getting to work. The security team started monitoring the house’s surroundings last night. Leaving this area for missions will only be done in the vehicle the embassy placed at our disposal.”
“We have begun to install the computer system and to activate the communication array,” Dan said. “We’ve got information about the software running the cars, which are apparently meant to act autonomously only during the last stage of the drive to the destinations and during the activation of the explosives. We’ll hack into them as soon as possible…”
“And what’s going on with the precision missiles, Dan? Is there information on where they’ve placed them? Maybe they still haven’t been smuggled into the area?”
“We still don’t have any information, Gideon. It’ll be handled once the entire system is working. Don’t worry, it is a high-priority task, and we’ll get to the information that specifically applies to it.”
“Is there anything else we need to know?” Gideon turned to the scientific advisor.
“There is, Gideon. Information regarding the planned attacks is known only to our ambassador at this stage. We didn’t want to let the word out. However, you should know that the Americans have learned, through their own means, of intentions by Hezbollah and Iran to target them. I’m in touch with a senior CIA operative at their embassy in Brasilia, and I’ll keep them posted to the extent I can in order to make sure they don’t get in our way.”
“That’s an important point, sir, and maybe it would be a good idea to share information with their NSA personnel as well? It’s very important that we don’t trip each other up…”
“You’re right, Gideon. We’ll take care of that as well.”
“Okay, gentlemen, we have a lot of work today. Let’s meet this afternoon and catch up.”
Chapter 24
“That is a very suitable location,” Nimer praised the financial advisor from the São Paulo Consulate, who escorted them from the airport to a structure that included a large garage in the cellar. “I’m sure that we can run the activity of the communication center from here as well. Are you leaving with the missile crew now? Please make sure they have everything they need.”
“Yes, Dr. Nimesdorf, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
The remainder of the day was spent completing the preparations of the communication team and checking the software that would manage the vehicles’ route on their way to the attacks. The missile team reported that they were stationed and ready to go; the software implanted in the missile warheads for the precise location of the target was checked and calibrated. Late at night, when traffic on the city streets was dwindling, the journey of the car bombs and the vehicles escorting them began. Everything was ticking along with no problems until suddenly, one of the vehicles equipped with a bomb stopped without being instructed to do so and resumed driving several seconds later. This sequence of events occurred in the other cars as well.
“What do you think happened to the cars?” Nimer turned to the head of the hacker team. “That didn’t look good to me.”
“We’re working on it, doctor, as well as on a temporary disconnection of our communications. Someone might be trying to infiltrate our network, which would require ac
tivating the alternate network we’ve set up.”
“Do it ASAP!”
***
“What’s going on, Dan? Is there a new development so late at night?”
“There is. There’s a large volume of traffic on the network we have managed to hack,” Dan replied in excitement. “It’s related to activating the cars, but we soon gathered that it is actually a drill that they are conducting in preparation for the execution…”
“And what did you do? Maybe it is the actual attacks after all?”
“No, Gideon, they weren’t moving toward the targets. We didn’t interfere in the car bombs’ activation commands; rather, we only paused each of the cars briefly when they were close to their destinations. We took care not to expose ourselves due to an overlong delay,” Dan replied to the unasked question.
“Did you pick up on anything else?”
“Ahh… yes, we did. We’ve intercepted communications from their missile team, and this morning, we’ve already pinpointed their precise location. Apparently our ‘friends’ conducted a dry run in preparation for the attacks, which helped us conduct our own drill to test ourselves on exposing the details of their execution outline.”
“Thanks, Dan. It was nice of our ‘friends’ to conduct a dry run. You’re continuing to monitor the networks on an ongoing basis?”
“Yes, of course, and starting this morning, we’ll deploy the system in its entirety.”
***
“The cars are on their way!” the head of the hacker team updated Nimer and Mughniyeh from the communication monitoring area. “So far, it’s all going smoothly.”
Traffic in the city before noontime on a Saturday was not heavy, and the drivers of the car bombs delivered the agreed-upon code words as they passed through the intersections specified in the plans. The monitoring team reported that the cars would be reaching the targets in twenty minutes. Nimer bit his lip and waited with bated breath. The more experienced Mughniyeh appeared calm, or perhaps managed to hide his tension in anticipation of the moment of execution.
“Hold on! What’s going on?” the head of the team called out in concern. “No! That’s impossible! Instead of continuing to the destinations on their own, after the drivers got out, the cars turned back! All three of them turned back…”
Nimer and Mughniyeh hurried to the monitoring area to watch the screens and witnessed the turn of events.
“Activate manual guidance immediately!” Nimer commanded.
“I already have, but it’s not working… Attempting to change direction through an instruction from the escort car didn’t do the trick either… The three cars are on their way to us…”
A tense silence descended upon the room, as everyone watched the screen to track the route of the cars that had veered out of control, unstoppably hurtling toward the house. Three intense explosions shook the house, while the escorts called in on unsecured lines, one after the other, to report that the cars were on fire.
***
Gideon, Dan, and the team members experienced several minutes that seemed to last forever. No one made a sound. Suddenly, three consecutive explosions echoed from the surveillance system, while the screens verified that there were no more car bombs. The applause and cries of joy were brief.
“Now turn all your attention to the missiles!” Dan called out. “That’s their backup plan.” He addressed the rocket and missile expert sitting tautly in front of his own screens. “Are you ready to take control of the missiles? There should be three of them…”
“I’m here, Dan, ready to take control of each of them once it’s in the air.”
Gideon, Dan, and the scientific advisor now turned their full attention to the screens tracking the missiles. The scientific advisor, who had been with them since the morning hours, reported an alert conveyed to the consulates and to the main synagogue. The head rabbi, the advisor updated them, had not agreed to cancel the Sabbath prayers, saying that God would protect his flock.
“That increases our responsibility to thwart the missile attack sevenfold,” Gideon said.
“One of them was launched! Activating route change,” the missile expert called out. “The change was executed; the missile is returning to its launching point…”
No one made a sound; their eyes were fixed firmly upon the missile screens.
“The second missile is off… Route change carried out.”
The only sound in the room was a sigh of relief, while their eyes continued to track the control screens. “The third missile is off!... Activating route change… Change carried out.”
Applause, claps on the back, and exuberant cries all expressed the joy of success.
“What happens now? Will someone try to capture the terrorists? Are Brazilian authorities aware of the attempted attacks, and will they make an effort to arrest them?” Gideon asked the consulate’s advisor. “We haven’t seen any serious attempt to arrest terrorists on this continent before.”
“In coordination with the Americans, we decided not to alert the authorities for fear our preparations would be exposed. At this very moment, the Israeli and American ambassadors are updating the Brazilian minister of foreign affairs and prime minister in Brasilia, the capital. The president will be briefed as well.”
***
Embarrassment and concern reigned in the house from which the attacks had been activated as part of the failed plan. Beyond the malfunctions in activating the three car bombs, the thwarting of the missile shooting was especially humiliating. The missiles had returned to their launching point, and communication with the men who launched them had been severed.
“Now we have to clear out of here quickly before São Paulo security forces get here,” Nimer declared.
“We’ll leave for the farm in the cars the embassy placed at our disposal. It’s the safest way,” Mughniyeh commanded. “Please check that we haven’t left behind any equipment that might expose us, and let’s get going!”
Chapter 25
Nahari’s conference room was full of people from the entire intelligence community, with senior representatives from the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Mossad, Dr. Deutsch representing the American Embassy, and Nahari’s own people.
“This is an inquiry meant to sum up the operation of thwarting the terrorist attacks in São Paulo, which was more complex than we initially thought,” Nahari began. “Dr. Gideon Ben Ari, who headed the successful operation, and Dan Avni, who handled all aspects of communication and cyber activity, will present their data, insights and interim conclusions from the twofold success. However, we all know that even a successful operation has its weak points, and we have to study them and learn our lessons. Based on confirmed information,” Nahari continued in his familiar staccato pace, “we are certain that those coordinating the attack on behalf of Hezbollah and most of their people managed to escape and reach what they consider safe harbor, and are apparently on their way to our region. At least the missile operators were eliminated.”
“It’s currently clear to us that those attempting to carry out the attack were of Lebanese origin,” Binyamin intervened. “They were equipped with Brazilian passports and were part of the group stationed at Hezbollah’s training farm in the IBT free-trade zone…”
“With your permission, Mr. Nahari,” Deutsch said, “I want to convey our appreciation to you for thwarting this complex attack, as well as the United States’ gratitude. Our people monitored your execution, and want to say ‘hats off’…”
“Thank you, Dr. Deutsch,” Nahari interjected. “Now let us hear from Gideon Ben Ari.”
“We were facing a coordinated, complex attack that incorporated new technologies. We dealt with car bombs equipped with certain autonomous capabilities, and neutralized precision missiles activated as a backup plan. We used cyber means to identify North Korean involvement and a close connection with Iran.”
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“How did such a major operation come to pass in Brazil without them picking up on the preparations?” Nahari challenged. “That really doesn’t make sense.”
“You could indeed notice security forces in São Paulo willfully averting their gaze. They simply were not there. It’s possible that there was also a German-Nazi factor here, including some lingering questions about the German scientific advisor who accompanies Imad Mughniyeh on his travels like a shadow. And we shouldn’t preclude significant impact caused by the bribes that Iran doesn’t hesitate to hand out. In my opinion,” Gideon concluded, his eyes firmly fixed upon Nahari, “the factors that tipped the balance and brought about a positive outcome for our defense array were our ability to process Big Data and the communication surveillance network operated by Dan Avni and his people.”
“Even during the data collection stage and construction of our network, we realized that we are dealing with a clever enemy,” Dan began. “We quickly came to the conclusion that this had the fingerprints of North Korean hackers all over it. Within our cyber circles, we’ve learned to appreciate North Korea’s accomplishments. Alongside long-range missiles and nuclear weapons, this impoverished country has invested in many hundreds of young people who have undergone training at Pyongyang’s Cyber University. We’ve put lots of effort into defending ourselves against attacks on our network and learned what we need to do in order not to be blocked during the operation itself.”
“The more significant contribution to thwarting the attacks,” Gideon chimed in, “was using cyber technology to seize control of the car bombs moments before they were activated, and changing the directions of the precision missiles’ trajectory. What have we learned as a result of this battle?”
“The challenge was infiltrating the cars’ autonomous navigation software, overcoming their cyber-defenses, and carrying out a similar maneuver on the precision missile software. They might not have anticipated those actions, or possibly simply didn’t have time to build an appropriate firewall. I’d say it’s always a good idea to stay one step ahead of the enemy and thus surprise them and win the battle.”