Walkie-Talkie Clue: How an Israeli-Made Device Exposed the Houthi Chief of Staff

An intelligence investigation suggests that a simple, yet commonly used, walkie-talkie may have been the key to enabling the targeted elimination of Muhammad al-Ghamari, the Chief of Staff of the Houthi forces in Yemen, by Israeli forces in August.

According to the intelligence blog Intelli Times, al-Ghamari was known to carry a Motorola TLR7 model walkie-talkie. This particular device is reportedly identical to models manufactured in Israel and widely circulated through Chinese vendors under various commercial names. The resemblance between al-Ghamari’s device and the Israeli-produced model raises the possibility that the communications device was the vulnerability exploited by Israeli intelligence to track and target him.

Al-Ghamari’s use of such equipment echoes similar intelligence successes against high-value targets, including the late Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and commanders in Hezbollah's Radwan Force, both of whom were also eliminated in targeted strikes.

Communications Vulnerabilities in the Axis of Terror

The exposure of the Houthi Chief of Staff through his walkie-talkie first occurred when the device was featured on a Houthi-affiliated media channel, potentially allowing Israeli intelligence to intercept and exploit its signal. This incident highlights a recurring vulnerability within the Iranian-backed "Axis of Resistance."

Israel has a documented history of successfully infiltrating and exploiting various communication systems used by its adversaries, including pagers acquired from Taiwan. Previous reports from Intelli Times in 2018 exposed the reliance of Iranian militia leaders on Chinese-made radios, and in 2022, revealed that Hezbollah's Radwan fighters were visible with "Icom" devices strapped to their chests.

Second Strike Proves Fatal

The targeted elimination of Muhammad al-Ghamari in August of this year was the second attempt on his life. The first strike, which he survived, took place in Sanaa and targeted a building where a khat-chewing gathering was underway.

The fatal strike occurred during a Houthi government meeting that al-Ghamari was attending. While the initial June strike wounded him, the August operation against the senior leadership proved successful. The elimination of al-Ghamari, a figure sanctioned by the United States for his role in orchestrating attacks on civilian infrastructure, marks a significant intelligence and operational success for Israel against a major commander in the terror group responsible for attacks against Israel and Red Sea shipping.