The Telegraph understands a number of Hezbollah operatives raised suspicions about the devices shortly before the attack, which may have prompted the Israelis to launch the operation prematurely.
“It was a use it or lose it moment,” one US official told the Axios website.
Some reports suggested the explosives were originally intended to be used only in the event of an all-out war, and that Israel might feel compelled to launch a ground invasion to cripple Hezbollah before the shock of the attack dissipates.
The Telegraph could not immediately confirm those claims.
On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces deployed its elite 98th division from Gaza to the country’s northern border with Lebanon.
Troops in Israel’s northern command conducted two exercises this week focusing on “readiness for terrain in the north, including simulating operations in enemy territory, and evacuating wounded from the field under fire”.
Maj Gen Ori Gordin, the head of northern command, said on Wednesday that his troops were at “peak readiness” and were “determined to change the security reality as soon as possible”.
Hezbollah is generally considered a more formidable opponent for Israel than Hamas.
The Iranian-backed Shia group is believed to have amassed between 100,000 and 150,000 rockets that it could fire into Israel in the event of an all-out war.
Israel’s 2006 ground invasion of Lebanon to root out Hezbollah lasted 32 days and ended inconclusively.
Danny Yatom, a former Mossad chief, refused to discuss attribution for Wednesday’s attacks but told The Telegraph that whoever was behind it would have had to “put their hands” on the devices before they arrived in Lebanon.
He added that the number of wounded Hezbollah members was more significant than the damage done to its communications network.
“That should worry Hezbollah and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The main problem for Hezbollah is not a different communication system but how many terrorists are injured,” Mr Yatom said.
“If they (Hezbollah members) are severely injured they won’t be able to operate as terrorists.”
The move has alarmed Israel’s closest allies, with both the United States and Britain urging restraint.