10 hours ago
Last Updated: September 19, 2024, 15:56 IST
Jerusalem, Israel
Pagers on display at a meeting room at the Gold Apollo company building in New Taipei City, Taiwan. (Image: REUTERS)
Israeli shell companies linked to deadly pager explosions in Lebanon raise concerns over security and retaliation from Hezbollah amid escalating tensions
Hungary-based BAC Consulting, which manufactured the pagers that exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, is reportedly an Israeli shell company, according to the New York Times (NYT). The blasts, which killed at least 20 people and left hundreds injured, are believed to have been planned by Israeli intel agencies to disrupt Hezbollah’s communications network.
The NYT report said that BAC Consulting was designed to conceal the identities of those involved in producing these dangerous devices. While the company created regular pagers for various clients, those intended for Hezbollah were specifically altered to contain explosive-laced batteries. The pagers were first shipped to Lebanon in small batches starting in 2022.
After a public rebuke of cellphones by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who urged his members to switch to pagers to avoid Israeli surveillance, demand for BAC-manufactured pagers surged among Hezbollah operatives. Since Nasrallah’s directive, there has been a significant increase in pager shipments to Lebanon, with thousands reportedly distributed to Hezbollah officers and their allies.
On Tuesday, a wave of explosions rocked the country as pagers detonated after users received what they believed were routine messages from Hezbollah. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the blasts caught many off guard. Hospitals in Beirut reported severe injuries, including eye damage and amputations.
Several experts have said that the deadly attacks have dealt a significant blow to the Iranian-backed outfit and raised concerns that its communication network may have been compromised. Many in Lebanon are left wondering what will come next. Amid this turmoil, Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate, labelling the attacks a “criminal act” by Israel.
Security experts have begun questioning Hezbollah’s operational security. While pagers are typically considered less traceable than mobile phones, this incident has exposed vulnerabilities when such devices are compromised. Analysts speculate that a supply chain attack may have allowed explosives to be embedded within the pagers during production or transit before reaching Hezbollah.
