How Israel used shell companies to execute pagers attack across Lebanon

In one of the deadliest attacks across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, Israel had established a shell company in Hungary, posing as an international pager producer, the New York Times reported citingintelligence officers.

The company manufactured ordinary pagers for various clients, however, the devices sent to Lebanon contained explosive batteries.

Tuesday's blasts reportedlyclaimed the lives of at least nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, and injured nearly 3,000 others, when the pagers blastedsimultaneously across Lebanon.

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The coordinated blasts are said to be theresultof a months-long operation by Israel targeting members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

5000 pagers imported

Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Israel's Mossad spy agency had planted explosives in 5000 pagers imported by Hezbollah from Taiwan.

The pagers had the labels of Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, however, the Taiwanese company denied manufacturing the explosive devices.

Instead, they alleged that the pagers were produced by BAC Consulting KFT, a European company based in Budapest, Hungary, which had been granted the right to use Gold Apollo's brand name.

According to the New York Times report, Israel had set up at least two additional shell companies to conceal the identities of intelligence officers involved in creating the pagers.

The devices were being sent to Lebanon from 2021 in small numbers, and the orders increased with time.

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Before the pagers attack happened, Israel reportedlyinformed US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin that a military operation would take place in Lebanon, and did not provide specific details.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previouslywarned members not to carry cell phones, as Israel could use them to track the group's movements.

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(With inputs from agencies)