Israel Set Up Shell Company to Produce Explosive Pagers Shipped to Lebanon, Media Reports

A wave of pager detonations across Lebanon on Tuesday injured an estimated 2,700-2,800 people, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad. The attack was followed by explosions of other wireless devices on Wednesday.

Reports that Israel had established a front company to produce and send explosive pagers to Lebanon followed a wave of coordinated explosions targeting pagers in Beirut and other cities on Tuesday, leaving thousands injured.

In reality, the devices were manufactured by Hungary-based BAC Consulting on behalf of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo. However, BAC is part of an Israeli shell company, reported three intelligence officers cited by the media.

At least two other shell companies were set up to conceal the true identities of those producing the pagers.

At the same time, BAC also had regular customers, for whom it produced devices without explosives, the media reported.

Explosive pagers reportedly began shipping to Lebanon in the summer of 2022, but production was later ramped up after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reportedly condemned the use of mobile phones for security reasons.