Japanese electronics firm clarifies production timeline of pagers linked to Lebanon blasts
A photo taken on September 18, 2024, in Beirut's southern suburbs shows the remains of exploded pagers on display at an undisclosed location. - Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon on September 17, killing at least nine people and wounding around 2,800 in blasts the Iran-backed militant group blamed on Israel. (Photo by AFP)
Icom, a Japanese electronics company, has issued a statement addressing reports that its radios were involved in recent explosions in Lebanon.
The firm explained that the IC-V82 handheld radio model was produced and exported to the Middle East from 2004 to October 2014.
“The IC-V82… was discontinued about 10 years ago, and since then, it has not been shipped from our company,” Icom stated. Additionally, production of batteries for the main unit has also been discontinued.
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Icom highlighted its strict manufacturing process, stating, “All of our radios are manufactured at our production subsidiary, Wakayama Icom Inc., in Wakayama Prefecture, under a strict management system… so no parts other than those specified by our company are used in a product.”
The clarification comes amid a series of device explosions in Lebanon, resulting in 32 deaths and over 3,000 injuries. Hezbollah sources reported that walkie-talkies used by its members blew up in Beirut, with similar incidents occurring in south and east Lebanon.
