Icom claims they’re knockoffs, but interesting they’re 2m radios meant to be for emergency communications in a war with Israel. Hezbollah needs some serious security reforms on how they source and inspect their electronics. It makes you wonder just how professional they are, and if they’re no more than just a way to collect and use the Islamic crazies for political purposes. Here’s a link to the story with related videos.

https://southfront.press/20-killed-hundreds-wounded-by-radio-sabotage-attack-in-lebanon/

20 Killed, Hundreds Wounded By Radio Sabotage Attack In Lebanon

The death toll from the second wave of the Israeli sabotage attack that targeted communication devices used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon has reached 20 with more than 450 others wounded.

The first wave of the attack, which saw more than 5,000 Gold Apollo AR924 pagers distributed by Hezbollah to its members some five months ago simultaneously explode on September 17, claimed the lives of 12 people, including two children, and wounded more than 2,800 others. Among those wounded in Lebanon was the Iranian ambassador to the country, Mojtaba Amani.

The Taiwan-based Gold Apollo said that the pagers were made by a Hungary-based contractor, BAC Consulting KFT. The company however appears to be just a front. The pagers were reportedly rigged with explosives by Israeli intelligence services before being shipped to Lebanon.

In the second wave, which took place on September 18, hundreds of Icom IC-V82 handheld radios exploded across Lebanon.

Just like in the first wave of the attack, blasts were reported in several parts of Lebanon, from the Baalbek-Hermel governorate in north, to the capital of Beirut, the Beqaa Valley in the east and the South governorate, the heartland of Hezbollah.

A sales executive at the United States subsidiary of the Japan-based Icom said the radios involved in the attack appeared to be “knockoff” products.

Citing two sources, the Axios news outlets reported that the handheld radios were booby-trapped in advance by Israeli intelligence services just like the pagers and then delivered to Hezbollah. The group wanted to use these devices as a part of an emergency communications system, which was supposed to be helpful during a war with Israel.

In total, the attack claimed the lives of 32 people and wounded more than 3,200 others. Some of the wounded have been already transported to Iran and Syria for treatment.

Israel’s main spy agency, Mossad, and the Military Intelligence Directorate, known as Aman, were reportedly behind the sophisticated attack.

Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon have been launching near-daily attacks against the Israeli Defense Forces in support of the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli war on the Palestinian enclave last October.

The deadly sabotage attack was likely meant to provoke Hezbollah. The group has already vowed to respond to the attack while affirming that it will continue to launch attacks in support of Gaza. Its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is expected to provide more details on the attack and how the group will respond to it in an upcoming speech.