The Beepers Blast: U.S. Media Alleges Israeli Agents Behind the Incident

Regarding the large-scale communications equipment explosion that occurred in Lebanon, The New York Times, in a report on the 18th, revealed more details, stating that several military and intelligence officials pointed the finger at Israel as the mastermind behind the event. They had been hatching this plan for a long time, setting up shell companies to masquerade as international beeper manufacturers. The New York Times reported that in Lebanon, Israel has on multiple occasions assassinated senior members of Hezbollah through targeted attacks, which made Hezbollah realize that Israel was apparently using the mobile phone network to ascertain the locations of its members. This prompted Hezbollah's leadership to push for the use of beepers. This presented an opportunity to Israeli intelligence officers. Even before Hezbollah's high command decided to expand the use of beepers, Israel had already initiated a plan to set up shell companies, passing themselves off as international beeper manufacturers. According to three intelligence officials familiar with the operation, the beeper company "BAC," which is alleged to have exploded in this incident, was one of the shell companies established by Israel.

On the surface, BAC appeared to be a company based in Hungary. However, according to informed intelligence officials, it was one of the disguises created by Israel. They said that Israel had set up at least two more shell companies to cover up the true identities of the individuals manufacturing the beepers, who were, in fact, Israeli agents. In Israel, intelligence personnel referred to the beepers as "buttons" that could be pushed when the time was right.