Taiwan probe finds its firms not involved in Lebanon pager attacks
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Taiwanese prosecutors say "there is no evidence indicating that any domestic manufacturers or individuals were accomplices" in the pager attacks in Lebanon.
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People gather outside the American University hospital after the arrival of several men who were wounded by exploded handheld pagers, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP)
Taiwan announced the conclusion of an investigation into the lethal Israeli pager attacks that left dozens killed and thousands injured in Lebanon back in September, claiming that no Taiwanese citizens or companies were involved.
Thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies detonated in Lebanon on September 17 and 18, killing at least 39 people and injuring thousands.
The timing and method by which the pagers were weaponized to be remotely detonated remain unclear. Taiwan, Hungary, and Bulgaria have also started investigating potential supply chain links.
Taiwanese prosecutors had probed four individuals as witnesses in their investigation of the Taiwanese Gold Apollo company, claimed to be associated with the attacks. The company, however, had alleged that it did not produce the devices used in the attack and that BAC, a Hungary-based firm associated with the pagers, had a license to use its brand. Additionally, Taiwan's government confirmed that the pagers were not manufactured in Taiwan.
The prosecutors then found that the AR-924 pager model that exploded in Lebanon was produced, traded, and shipped by a firm called Frontier Group Entity, and was manufactured outside of Taiwan. However, Gold Apollo had licensed the company to use the Apollo trademark, they noted.
"There is no evidence indicating that any domestic manufacturers or individuals were accomplices in the relevant explosions, violating the Counter-Terrorism Financing Act, or engaging in other illegal activities," the statement read, adding that no tangible evidence was found linking any Taiwanese individuals to the attack.
Netanyahu comes forward: 'Israel' responsible for terror attacks in Lebanon
It was not until November that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed during a cabinet meeting that the Israeli occupation was responsible for the September pager and wireless receiver terrorist attacks.
According to these reports, Netanyahu acknowledged that the operation, which targeted thousands of pagers across Lebanon and parts of Syria, was conducted despite opposition from top officials in the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and intelligence agencies, including recently sacked Security Minister Yoav Gallant.
“The pager operation and the elimination of [Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defense establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon,” Netanyahu reportedly said.
The Israeli occupation had not previously taken public responsibility for the attacks despite accusations from numerous parties, including the Lebanese government.
It is worth noting that the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the treacherous aggression caused by the attack after obtaining results of a probe it launched the day the pagers exploded, as well as examining available data, regarding the pager detonations.
Read more: New warfare era: Israelis weaponize consumer goods in terror attacks
