This paper, by Ralph Baydoun, founder of InflueAnswers, examines psychological and information warfare through a focused case study on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, highlighting how propaganda, data manipulation, and technological tactics are employed to sow discord and control narratives within a deeply divided society. Building on the foundations of WWII-era psychological warfare strategies like Operation Cornflakes, where the Allied forces used counterfeit mail to distribute anti-Nazi propaganda, the article draws parallels to Israel's sophisticated information warfare against Hezbollah and the Lebanese population.

Since the escalation of Israeli aggression in Lebanon on September 23, 2024, Israel’s information operations have primarily targeted two strategic objectives: data acquisition and societal division. Data acquisition efforts include intensive surveillance, human intelligence gathering, and the recruitment of informants through direct outreach on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These platforms host targeted ads promising safety in exchange for information, while some new online platforms lure Lebanese users under the guise of evacuation assistance to gather personal data. Israel’s exploitation of hacked surveillance cameras, combined with targeted phishing campaigns and malware embedded in popular applications, reflects a sophisticated approach to mass intelligence gathering, enabled by Lebanon’s digital vulnerabilities and limited media literacy.

Concurrently, Israel has used information warfare to exacerbate existing political and sectarian tensions within Lebanese society. By selectively targeting Hezbollah-affiliated areas and triggering displacements, Israel has fueled distrust among communities, especially in areas hosting these displaced populations. The psychological impact is amplified by disinformation campaigns spread through social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp, which spread fake evacuation orders and misinformation, sparking panic and confusion among civilians.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has conducted its own propaganda campaigns to counter Israeli influence and maintain an image of strength. These efforts include disseminating fabricated reports of military successes and recycling unrelated media content from other conflicts to bolster morale among supporters. Hezbollah's content is crafted to present an illusion of victory, tapping into historical narratives that have previously fostered loyalty and resilience among its base, despite the reality on the ground.

The paper concludes that these advanced psychological warfare tactics contribute to the cyclical instability and division in Lebanon. Both Israel’s and Hezbollah’s information strategies rely on the ease with which public opinion can be influenced, particularly in a media environment with low digital literacy and high political fragmentation. The manipulation of data and narratives not only impacts immediate perceptions but has long-term implications for national cohesion and the possibility of peace. The Lebanese population is faced with a stark reality check, where psychological warfare has blurred the line between fact and fiction, underscoring the need for media literacy and a renewed focus on Lebanese unity, grounded in objective information and collective national interest. Through this case study, the article illustrates that modern information warfare is as much about technological prowess as it is about exploiting human and societal vulnerabilities.