April 7,2008: Earlier this year, Iranian technicians set up several electronic listening operations in Syria. Apparently, these are there to eavesdrop on Israeli military, and UN Peacekeeper, communications. Iran had helped Hizbollah do this in Lebanon during 2006, both before and during that years conflict with Israel. Iran is believed to have obtained the equipment, and some of the tech support, from Russian and Western firms. The Russian aid was sold, while most, or all, of the Western stuff was stolen.

As a result, Israeli troops now have many restrictions on how they can use their cell phones. And military communications gear is being beefed up with better encryption and more prudent rules of use.