On October 19, 1994, a seemingly ordinary red-and-white bus on Tel Aviv’s Route No. 5 became the scene of a horrific act of terrorism. As the bus approached a stop on Dizengoff Street, known for its bustling cafes and shops, Saleh Abdel Rahim al-Souwi, a slim man with a round face, sat calmly in his seat. Samuel M. Katz, in his book The Hunt for the Engineer, describes Saleh as appearing harmless, yet "behind his placid manner lay rage and a thirst for revenge." Saleh had lost his younger brother, Hasin, to Israeli forces in 1989. At 8:56 a.m., he executed a deadly plan, detonating 20 kg of TNT hidden inside a landmine in his brown bag. The explosion was catastrophic, killing 21 people and injuring over 50, marking it as the deadliest bombing Israel had witnessed until that time."How are you, father?" were the last words Abdel Latif heard before the mobile number 050507497 went dead. The anxious father redialed, only to receive an automated message indicating the line was unavailable. It was January 5, 1996, and those would be the final words of Yahya Ayyash, the "invincible" chief bombmaker of Hamas. A master of deception and disguise, Ayyash had evaded Israeli intelligence while orchestrating bombings that claimed at least 150 lives, including innocent civilians.Also Read: Who was Ibrahim Aqil? The senior Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrikeThe Mastermind Behind the AttackHowever, Saleh was not the mastermind; that was 28-year-old Yahya Ayyash, known as 'The Engineer.' Between his initial bombing on April 6, 1994, and his own assassination in January 1996, Yahya was responsible for the deaths of around 150 Israelis and injuries to 500 more. His methods were notorious, as he crafted bombs using everyday items, gaining a fearsome reputation in the Palestinian liberation movement. Despite his involvement in violent acts, Yahya had aspirations of being an engineer. Born into a farming family in Rafat in February 1966, he excelled academically, completing his electrical engineering degree at Birzeit University in 1991. His ambitions were crushed when Israeli authorities denied him permission to study abroad, pushing him into the arms of Hamas.The Hunt for AyyashFollowing the Afula car bombing that killed nine people, Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet placed Yahya Ayyash at the top of their most-wanted list. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's aide remarked, "Yehiya Ayyash, the mastermind behind the murderous attack on Dizengoff, is considered a dead man. It’s only a matter of time before we get our hands on him." However, months passed without successful capture. Yahya's commitment to his family, particularly his longing for his parents, became his Achilles' heel. He would often disguise himself to visit them, a risk that ultimately led to his downfall.Also Read: Who is Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono and what is her firm's link to Lebanon's exploding pagers?A Fatal ConnectionIn late 1995, Ayyash was hiding in Gaza, where he reconnected with Osama Hamad, a friend from university. Unbeknownst to Yahya, Osama's uncle, Kamal Hamad, was an informant for Shin Bet. When Kamal provided Osama with a Motorola phone, he had it rigged with an explosive device. On January 5, 1996, as Yahya attempted to reach out to his father, the phone rang. His last words, “How are you, father?” were spoken before the device exploded, resulting in his immediate death. Reports indicated that a small plane hovered overhead, allowing Israeli operatives to confirm Ayyash was the one on the line before detonating the bomb.Ayyash's assassination came just two months after the killing of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995. The political climate was tense, with anti-peace factions like Hamas launching indiscriminate bombings. In this atmosphere, Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, was under immense pressure to achieve results. Ayyash had become a significant threat, leading to a string of bombings that resulted in numerous Israeli casualties.Who was The infamous EngineerThe precision of this assassination sent shockwaves through Palestinian circles. Yahya Ayyash was more than just a figure of terror; he became a symbol of resistance. His methods inspired many, including those who strapped explosives to themselves in suicide attacks. In the aftermath, Hamas escalated their operations in revenge, leading to further violence, including a series of bombings in 1996.Even decades later, Ayyash remains a cult figure among many Palestinians, illustrating the profound impact of his actions and the ongoing conflict. His story serves as a reminder of the complexities within the Israeli-Palestinian struggle and the lengths to which both sides will go to assert their narratives.Also Read: From Kerala to Norway: Norwegian man Rinson Jose becomes surprising new link in Lebanon's pager blast investigationModern Parallels in Asymmetric WarfareThe recent Israeli operations against Hezbollah, which involved detonating thousands of pagers across Lebanon, echo the tactics seen during Ayyash's time. In 2024, Israel employed a similar strategy by targeting outdated technology to create chaos among their foes. As Defense Minister Yoav Gallant noted, Israel is "opening a new phase in the war," reminiscent of the days when Ayyash's bombs brought terror to Israeli civilians.The Evolution of Mobile WarfareIn a striking parallel to past operations, Israeli intelligence, particularly Mossad, has demonstrated its adaptability by utilizing a relic from the '90s: pagers. This comes twenty-six years after the assassination of Yahya Ayyash, the infamous Hamas bombmaker known for pioneering mobile bombing techniques.In a meticulously planned covert operation, Israel detonated thousands of pagers and electronic devices used by Hezbollah across Lebanon within a mere two days. This operation was not just about tactical surveillance; Israeli operatives took the unprecedented step of creating a shell company in Budapest to manufacture and distribute these pagers to Hezbollah fighters.This strategic move allowed Israel to achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, paving the way for a significant military offensive that commenced on Thursday. Following the explosive series of attacks, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced, “We are opening a new phase in the war,” a pivotal moment as the conflict approaches its one-year mark on October 7.These recent developments present a timely opportunity to reflect on the 1996 assassination of Yahya Ayyash, often described by counterterrorism officials as “the definition of danger wrapped in a time bomb.” Ayyash's legacy of innovation in asymmetric warfare continues to resonate today, as Israeli tactics evolve in response to persistent threats.The question now remains: how will Hezbollah respond to this provocation? Just as Ayyash's death led to a wave of retaliatory violence, the consequences of current actions may well reshape the future dynamics of the conflict.