Cessation of walkie-talkie manufacturing involving explosions occurred in 2014.
After another bout of explosions in Lebanon, where unlawful walkie-talkies attributed to Hezbollah associates went up in flames, the walkie-talkie producer has offered their perspective. According to the Japanese corporation, the manufacturing of these questionable devices ceased a decade ago. The possibility of an illicit replica can't be dismissed.
The corporation, Icom, stated that the supposed walkie-talkies involved in Lebanon's explosions were produced and distributed from 2004 to October 2014, including to Middle Eastern regions. "Production stopped around a decade ago and we haven't shipped these devices since," Icom explained.
On a Wednesday, hundreds of walkie-talkies detonated in Lebanon, including in a southern suburb of the capital Beirut, during a funeral for Hezbollah members who had lost their lives due to pager explosions the previous day. Hezbollah accused Israel of the explosions and vowed retaliation. On the same day, Hezbollah announced the continuation of their offensive against Israel. Israel has yet to comment on the explosions.
As reported in the media, the walkie-talkies that went off in Lebanon on Wednesday exhibited the Icom logo. Initially, on Thursday morning, the company declared: "Multiple reports in the international media indicate that walkie-talkies bearing the Icom logo have exploded in Lebanon." Icom is currently investigating these claims.
Later, the company issued a more detailed statement, confirming that production on these devices ceased ten years ago. "The production of batteries essential for the device's operation also came to an end," it added. Icom also mentioned that they did not implement anti-counterfeiting measures, such as hologram seals, on the devices. Consequently, it's impossible to distinguish if the products originated from Icom or if they were potential criminal counterfeit walkie-talkies.
Icom clarified that despite the explosions in Lebanon involving walkie-talkies with their logo, their production and distribution of these devices ceased a decade ago. The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, resulting in a war rhetoric, raises concerns about the origin of these explosive devices potentially leading to a 'War with Israel'.
