Explosions in Lebanon: from Hungary to Taiwan, on the trail of Hezbollah pagers

A secret operation with international ramifications. Three days after the series of pager explosions – then walkie-talkies – that decimated the ranks of Hezbollah, no country or organization has issued a claim. While all eyes are on Israel, the investigation is turning to Taiwan via Hungary.

According to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), some 5,000 pagers were sent to Lebanon about five months ago. Their explosion on September 17, followed by that of walkie-talkies the next day, left 37 dead, according to the Lebanese Minister of Health. According to the ISW, which relies on American sources “unspecified“, the operation was reportedly launched out of fear that “Hezbollah discovers rigged devices“.

Shell companies in Hungary?

It remains to be seen how these boxes, which can receive messages and sound alerts using their own radio frequency, outside mobile phone networks, were sabotaged. This is where it is difficult for the moment to trace their journey to Hezbollah’s hands. According to a Lebanese security official, they “were pre-programmed to detonate and contained explosive materials placed next to the battery“. Where and when were these materials installed?

According to sources of various nationalities cited by the New York Timesthe small devices, bearing the manufacturer’s brand Gold Apollo in Taiwan, were intercepted by Israeli services before their arrival in Lebanon. Problem: the Taiwanese company denies having manufactured them. “These are not our products (…) These are not our products from start to finish“, the company’s director, Hsu Chin-kuang, told reporters in Taipei on Wednesday.

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Very quickly, Gold Apollo pointed the finger at its Hungarian partner BAC. Founded in 2022, this company is registered in Budapest. Except that its CEO, Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, appears as the only employee there… The devices in question have “never been on Hungarian soil“, hammered Budapest for its part.

According to the New York Timess, which cites Israeli intelligence officers, BAC was in reality an Israeli front. And at least two other shell companies were allegedly created to mask the real identity of those who manufactured the devices. Specifically, the Hungarian company is said to have worked with ordinary customers, selling them conventional devices. And, according to the American daily, to have modified those intended for another customer: Hezbollah. And this, since 2022. According to Budapest, however, this company is “a commercial intermediary, without a production or operational site in Hungary” And “the devices in question have never been on Hungarian soil.”

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Another track, this time leading to Bulgaria. An article from the Hungarian site Telexciting unnamed sources, claimed on Thursday that the company North Global, registered in Sofia by a Norwegian, had imported the beepers and arranged their delivery to the Islamist movement. Again, the authorities denied this.Following the checks carried out, it has been established beyond doubt that no communication equipment corresponding to that which exploded on 17 September was imported, exported or manufactured in Bulgaria.”the National Security Agency (DANS) announced in a statement. Who should we believe? The Israeli authorities, however, remain silent. The United States, their historic ally, took care to state: “not to be involved” and not having been informed in advance.