Japanese firm denies links to explosive walkie-talkies used in Lebanon blasts

Japanese radio manufacturer Icom has distanced itself from walkie-talkies bearing its logo that were linked to the Lebanon blasts. The explosions, which left at least 20 people dead and 450 injured, have raised questions over the origins of the devices, which were allegedly used by Hezbollah.

Photos and videos from the scene show what appear to be IC-V82 transceivers, a model made by Icom, an Osaka-based telecommunications firm. However, Icom has issued a statement clarifying that production of these devices ceased nearly a decade ago.

“The IC-V82 is a handheld radio that was produced and exported, including to the Middle East, from 2004 to October 2014. It was discontinued about 10 years ago, and since then, it has not been shipped from our company,” Icom said. “The production of the batteries needed to operate the main unit has also been discontinued, and a hologram seal to distinguish counterfeit products was not attached, so it is not possible to confirm whether the product shipped from our company.”

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The company is now investigating whether counterfeit versions of its radios, widely available online, might have been involved in the explosions. A sales executive from Icom’s U.S. subsidiary told the Associated Press that it was “easy to find counterfeit versions online,” which may explain how the devices ended up in Lebanon.

This marks the second time this week that an Asian tech company has been drawn into a deadly incident in Lebanon. Just days earlier, Taiwanese pager manufacturer Gold Apollo found itself linked to a series of pager explosions that killed 12 and injured over 2,000 people. Gold Apollo’s founder, Hsu Ching-Kuang, denied any involvement, claiming his company had licensed the trademark to a Hungarian firm, BAC Consulting, which could not be reached for comment.

Lebanon’s Annahar newspaper reported that the Icom walkie-talkies involved in the incident were old handsets, with sources suggesting that Hezbollah had purchased the devices just five months ago. However, it remains unclear whether the walkie-talkies were authentic or counterfeits.

Icom, a leader in the amateur radio market, produces communication devices for marine, aviation, and land use. While Asia is considered a hub for high-quality tech production, this series of tragic incidents has raised concerns about counterfeit products and supply chain vulnerabilities.

As investigations continue, many are left wondering how these compromised devices made their way into the hands of Hezbollah, and what role counterfeit products may have played in the disaster.