Israel used front company to blow up Hezbollah pagers

Israel is believed to have orchestrated the creation of a front company to produce explosive-laden pagers used in coordinated attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, according to an investigation by *The New York Times*. The Hungarian company BAC was allegedly established by Israel to manufacture the devices under the guise of a Taiwanese brand as part of a complex, months-long operation. This effort, described as one of the most sophisticated ever conducted against Hezbollah, began with the creation of BAC, which ostensibly produced pagers for regular customers but was, in reality, crafting specialized devices intended exclusively for Hezbollah. These pagers were equipped with PETN explosives that could be remotely triggered at a chosen time.

The shipment of these devices to Lebanon began in small quantities during the summer of 2022, with production ramping up after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah banned his commanders from using mobile phones, fearing Israeli cyberattacks. Nasrallah believed that pagers, being simpler, would be more secure against Israeli hacking. According to three intelligence officers involved, Hezbollah trusted that the pagers would prevent tracking and message interception. However, Israel had already developed a plan to embed explosives in the devices and remotely detonate them.

When the order was given this week, the pagers began to ring, and upon being accessed by Hezbollah members, they detonated, causing synchronized explosions in multiple locations across Lebanon and Syria. Intelligence sources indicated that these explosions were only the beginning. The following day, walkie-talkies—also rigged with explosives—were triggered, including one during a funeral in Beirut. The coordinated use of such innocuous-looking communication devices demonstrates the depth of Israeli penetration and the sophistication of its operations, designed to destabilize Hezbollah without direct military strikes.

Investigations reveal that BAC was not the only front company created by Israel. At least two other companies were established to obscure the true source of the pagers. Although BAC served regular customers, its primary mission was to supply the devices to Hezbollah, which ultimately became the sole target of this operation. The pagers, referred to as "buttons" by Israeli intelligence, contained explosives powerful enough to kill or seriously injure anyone handling them, despite their small size. This tactic represents a new form of electronic warfare adopted by Israel, combining espionage with precision technological attacks.

While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility, 12 defense and intelligence sources interviewed by *The New York Times* confirmed that the country was behind the operation, which had been in planning for more than two years. According to these sources, the decision to activate the devices was a response to increasing Hezbollah activity along the Israeli border and recent clashes in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operations are intended to ensure the safe return of more than 70,000 Israelis displaced by the conflict in the north of the country. He suggested that additional operations could be forthcoming to improve security along the Lebanon border.