Hezbollah device attacks show loss of control after export

Japanese manufacturer cannot confirm walkie-talkies were genuine products

20240920N Icom walkie talkie

An Icom IC-V82 walkie-talkie at a store in Manila. The model was purportedly involved in explosions across Lebanon on Sept. 18. © Reuters

AKINOBU IWASAWA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- The reported link between a Japanese manufacturer and the walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah fighters that exploded this week in Lebanon underscores the difficulty companies face in keeping their products from being used for military or terrorist activities.

The devices were labeled with the logo of Icom, which said Thursday that "it is not possible to confirm whether the product shipped from our company."

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