Israeli front-controlled manufacturing process likeliest explanation for attacks on Hezbollah

The possibility Israel has controlled a company to mass manufacture covert weapons has raised questions about whether the remotely exploding devices are legal under international law. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

A meticulous manufacturing operation, probably controlled by an Israeli front company, is emerging as the most likely way thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies containing hidden explosives ended up in the hands of Hezbollah operatives.

Experts said the sabotaged devices appeared to use small amounts of military grade plastic explosives that could be carefully assembled only over a period of time, amid reports that they were manufactured by an Israeli front company with links to Europe.