From Taiwan to Lebanon via Hungary: The trail of exploding fences

Communication equipment on the ground as Lebanese Army forces (not pictured) prepare to destroy it in a controlled explosion, in southern Lebanon between the villages of Burj al Muluk and Klayaa, on September 19, 2024. | Photo credit: AFP

On Sunday (September 15, 2024), Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, told his security cabinet that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that 70,000 Israelis displaced from northern border villages due to fighting with Hezbollah, return home. Two days later, Tuesday (September 17, 2024), in the evening, hundreds of pagers, low-tech messaging devices, began to explode simultaneously in Lebanon and parts of Syria. At least 12 people were killed and more than 2,800 were injured. A day later, on Wednesday (September 18, 2024), walkie-talkies and other electronic devices exploded in Lebanon, killing 20 others and injuring at least 450 others.

The blasts mostly hit Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite militia group that uses pagers and walkie-talkies to communicate among its ranks. Hezbollah immediately blamed Israel for the attack. Iran accuses Israel of mass killings in Lebanon. A few others asked about the use of civilian communication devices. Lebanese health officials said at least two children were among the dead and could not say for sure how many of the casualties were civilians and how many were Hezbollah members. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its role in the blasts – a standard response when it comes to controversial overseas operations. But if Israel is really behind the attack, the question is how it can counter the attack.

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Taiwanese connection

First, there are various theories pointing to different possibilities, including cyber warfare and supply-side penetration to destroy the device. Most of the fences that exploded were AR924s bearing the brand name Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company founded in 1995. After the explosion on Tuesday (September 17, 2024), Gold Apollo issued a statement, saying it was not involved in production. of the fence in question. “The product is not ours. There is only our brand,” Gold Apollo’s founder and president, Hsu Ching-kuang, told reporters at the company’s office in New Taipei on Wednesday (September 18, 2024).

In its statement, the company said the AR924 model fence was manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, a Hungarian company. “Gold Apollo has established a long-term partnership with BAC Consulting”, and has authorized “BAC to use the trademark of our brand for the sale of products in certain areas, but the design and manufacturing of the products are all handled by BAC,” he said. the statement said. Gold Apollo did not disclose details of the contract with BAC.

Hungarian connection

BAC Consulting, based in Budapest, operates “environmental, political and development projects”, according to the company’s LinkedIn page, which had 303 followers on Thursday (September 19, 2024). The page makes no reference to the company’s involvement in manufacturing electronic devices. He said the BAC could find “innovative solutions” to address the challenges of “development, international affairs and the environment”. Cristiana Rosaria Bársony-Arcidiacono, a 49-year-old PhD in particle physics, is the company’s CEO.

According to Ms.’s LinkedIn profile. Bársony-Arcidiacono, he has supported “environmental and social causes for developing and fragile countries” and has published articles in scientific journals. He holds a PG master’s degree at SOAS, London, and a diploma in politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. But should a PhD in particle physics with experience in the field of environmental consulting and development be involved with fence manufacturing? “I didn’t make a fence. I’m just an intermediary. I think it’s wrong,” said Ms. Bársony-Arcidiacono told the US broadcaster NBC on the phone. But he did not say that BAC was not involved. And if Gold Apollo is to be believed, a little-known Budapest-based company that claims to work in development and environmental consulting is designing and building fences in Taiwan and selling them to Hezbollah in Lebanon and parts of Syria. And they exploded at a critical point in the Hezbollah-Israeli war. Both the known and unknown sides of the explosion saga point to a bigger player behind.

Also Read | Japanese company says it no longer makes radios used in Lebanon blasts

The hidden hand

According to a New York Times reports, citing defense and intelligence officials, BAC Consulting is a front company for Israel’s intelligence agency. The report states that Israeli intelligence officials have created three shell companies, including BAC, which will be officially registered in Hungary in 2022. Hezbollah is wary of using mobile phones, fearing Israeli penetration. They turned on the fence to communicate, and Israel created a company to make the fence – with PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) explosives, and a switch to detonate remotely.

The blasts have hit Hezbollah, whose senior commander Fuad Shukr was killed by Israel on July 30 in Beirut. Israel has once again shown its willingness and ability to take huge risks when attacking its rivals. But with Hezbollah vowing revenge, tensions on Israel’s northern border will continue to escalate.