After explosions of pagers and other hand-held devices across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, details about how it was planned have started emerging. Although Israel has neither confirmed on denied having any role in the attack, several reports claim that Israeli intelligence, the Mossad and the army were behind the attack. In fact, a recent New York Times report describes in detail how the entire operation was planned and executed.
The report cites 12 current and former defense and intelligence officials who were briefed on the attack. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the officials told the New York Times that the Israelis were behind it and the operation was complex and took a long time to organise.
Israel initiated a covert operation to produce pagers through a front company, BAC Consulting, based in Hungary, as per the officials. BAC was contracted to manufacture pagers for the Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, but according to three intelligence officers cited in the report, it was an Israeli front used to target Hezbollah.
At least two additional shell companies were set up to conceal the identities of Israeli intelligence agents involved in the project. While BAC served some regular clients, the primary focus was Hezbollah, the officials claimed. Unlike standard pagers, those sent to Hezbollah had been modified. These pagers contained batteries laced with PETN, an explosive material, the said.
The shipments to Lebanon began modestly in the summer of 2022 but increased rapidly following a statement by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denouncing cell phones over fears of being tracked by Israeli intelligence.
By the end of the summer, thousands of these pagers had been sent to Hezbollah members and their affiliates in Lebanon. The increase in the shipment was also confirmed by two American intelligence officials.