Hezbollah Icom portables exploding in Lebanon?

[knockoffham]

So the portable in the photo is the same models that blew up? I thought it was pagers? Were these voice pagers or text pagers? This is just so odd, someone literally went through months of planning and installed bombs into a bunch of pagers for this, it's like some sort of supervillain plot.
Edit: Wait this is a part 2? How the heck did they accomplish this? Were these government radios all on the same system, and got a 2-tone page that translated to "detonate C4" or something?

 

[rescuecomm]

It was the Hezbollah terrorist group unwittingly ordering their communications gear from a Mossad front company. Pagers and Icom radios were doctored before delivery.

 

[nd5y]

More Electronics Explode In Lebanon As Israel Declares ‘New Phase’ Of War

The detonation of thousands of devices along with other developments may be a precursor to a full-on Israeli military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Another wave of exploding electrical devices has further stoked fears of a full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

www.twz.com

 

[KL5LD]

So the portable in the photo is the same models that blew up? I thought it was pagers? Were these voice pagers or text pagers? This is just so odd, someone literally went through months of planning and installed bombs into a bunch of pagers for this, it's like some sort of supervillain plot.
Edit: Wait this is a part 2? How the heck did they accomplish this? Were these government radios all on the same system, and got a 2-tone page that translated to "detonate C4" or something?

I don't think it was c4 there is no way. It was 2 separate attacks that happened on two different days. For them to send out a tone to explode these radios individually. And if they came loaded with c4 from the factory, as far as the radios go, these radios have been in rotation for a while now. So that would mean they planted the explosives in the factory years ago. The employees at the factories and the supervisors and the border patrol and customs of those countries that the radios had to cross and so many other people who have to have been in on it. From the look of some of these radios only the battery was missing, to be able to plant explosives on them and make them explode outwards towards the battery and not damage the radio is another level.

What kind of worries me is what if they have been able to create some form of tech that they can activate that can cause radios, phones, pagers, or any other electronics to overheat and cause the batteries to explode. Then basically we are all walking around with a bomb in our pockets. Kinda reminds me of that movie the Kingsman with the SIM cards.

 

[KL5LD]

It was the Hezbollah terrorist group unwittingly ordering their communications gear from a Mossad front company. Pagers and Icom radios were doctored before delivery.

Yeah, but here's the thing, it wasn't only just radios and pagers, it was all kinds of different devices from fingerprint scanners to solar panels. No way they planted explosives in every single piece of tech that has come through those areas. There is something else here, a new tech that they just showed the world that they have. The ability to cause any battery in any electrical device to malfunction, overheat, and explode. Just the thought is kinda scary.

 

[GlobalNorth]

This is nothing new. The US acquired Soviet Bloc small arms ammunition stores in the 1960s and planted high explosives in the random cartridge cases of rifle and machine gun ammunition in the factory sealed cases. They ammunition was then re-introduced into the NVA supply chain. The results were as expected.

The explosives used in the pager and HT attacks is PETN, not C-4. PETN is virtually insoluble in water, so rain and sweat do not degrade it. It is a dual use chemical chain and is used in medicine as well. It explodes at over 24,000 FPS, so it is effective even in small amounts.

Lebanon, Iran, Syria, etc. do not have effective customs inspections looking for weapons, explosives, salted consumer goods, etc. They are looking for porn, Bibles, and Christian items of influence. That will change in the short term.

 

[KL5LD]

This is nothing new. The US acquired Soviet Bloc small arms ammunition stores in the 1960s and planted high explosives in the random cartridge cases of rifle and machine gun ammunition in the factory sealed cases. They ammunition was then re-introduced into the NVA supply chain. The results were as expected.

The explosives used in the pager and HT attacks is PETN, not C-4. PETN is virtually insoluble in water, so rain and sweat do not degrade it. It is a dual use chemical chain and is used in medicine as well. It explodes at over 24,000 FPS, so it is effective even in small amounts.

Lebanon, Iran, Syria, etc. do not have effective customs inspections looking for weapons, explosives, salted consumer goods, etc. They are looking for porn, Bibles, and Christian items of influence. That will change in the short term.

Then how do we explain the solar panels and other electronic devices exploding as well? Also, this is a very precise attack on specific individuals. I do not think just loading a bunch of random beepers and ht's with PETN and hoping for the best. I understand what you are saying about what we did with the soviet munitions, but this is not the same. Giving a bunch of bullets to the enemies and them blowing up is one thing, but just randomly loading electronics with the hopes that some terrorist has it on them and not a couple of kids running around playing with ht's is crazy. And if it is, whoever was responsible for it, just loaded up a bunch of electronics with explosives and blew them all up at the same time is insane and diabolical with no care of human life. but again, I don't think that is what this was.

 

[speedway_navigator]

Who ever had access to the paging terminal might have the caller IDs of inbound calls and the numbers sent to the pagers before the
'warranty' (and user) expired.

 

[mmckenna]

Then how do we explain the solar panels and other electronic devices exploding as well?

I'd question the source. No idea if it's accurate or not, but it's not uncommon for incorrect information to be shared on the news.

Also, this is a very precise attack on specific individuals. I do not think just loading a bunch of random beepers and ht's with PETN and hoping for the best.

From what I've read, they just started using the pagers since other means were hacked and they felt it was secure. Apparently someone got in the middle of the supply chain for new pagers and added explosives.

Apparently the same with the radios. Not difficult to do when everything has to be imported and there's little to no control.

but just randomly loading electronics with the hopes that some terrorist has it on them and not a couple of kids running around playing with ht's is crazy.

I don't think it was random.
Palestine has been nearly razed to the ground. Little kids are not out playing with walkie talkies and pagers. There's only one group that would have the access and funds to afford tools like that, and that's the guys with the money and power. Easy to target them in that sort of situation.

And if it is, whoever was responsible for it, just loaded up a bunch of electronics with explosives and blew them all up at the same time is insane and diabolical with no care of human life. but again,

I agree, and that seems to be the way war generally works.

I don't think that is what this was.

I'd respectfully disagree. Israel is pretty advanced and develops a lot of high end technology. It's not a third world country, they are absolutely capable of this.

 

[rf_patriot200]

It's a special order from the manufacturer to accommodate the C4.

I'm wondering if there's not a decoy or dummy 18650 cell in a pack that's filled with 10-15 grams of s-tek or some other H.E. to be detonated by a secondary voltage source ? The Correct DTMF or 5 tone sequence could allow the secondary voltage to detonate. ... Don't ask how I figure this. Or maybe not. Glad I don't have any Newer icom talkies though.

 

[MUTNAV]

I'd respectfully disagree. Israel is pretty advanced and develops a lot of high end technology. It's not a third world country, they are absolutely capable of this.

I think KL5LD was saying he didn't think it was someone randomly loading explosives into electronics.

KL5LD pleas correct me if I misinterpreted this.
(Yes I know you can stand up for yourself, but I wanted to correct the disagreement as quickly as possible if I could)

Thanks
Joel

 

[a727469]

After having read all these ideas, I understand a somewhat logical reason for all the pagers going off, but I am having a problem with the radios..were these radios turned on or off at the time since this could affect the possible detonation source unless there was a very small timer and explosives in each radio. Obviously limited space to add much to them. Wonder if the radios were working normally up to the explosion.

 

[furdog58]

The Devices would have to be working or you would know their is a problem. Change the firmware to allow encoding that's not possible in the software and normal operation. Everything will work as normal Except maybe the vibrate of the pager. That should have been a hint to the end user. That's Assuming it was altered in that way.

 

[furdog58]

Having the radio off is an interesting problem. But if you know that communication's happen at a certain time of the day then you have a solution.

 

[speedway_navigator]

If the radios has 2 tone decode that would be a similar tactic to detonating the pagers. It's a very sophisticated operation.

 

[AK9R]

Pics show IC-V82

Which is why this thread has been moved to Amateur Equipment.

not sure if they are Icom or CCI knockoffs.

Given the number of fake Icom 2m radios that have shown up on Ebay in recent years, my vote would be that they are knock-offs. The Apollo Gold pagers used in Tuesday's incident were not produced by Apollo.

 

[furdog58]

It would be interesting if you could imbed Encryption keys in the firmware to use as the encoding to enable the desired result. Instead of voice use it to control other options. The different keys different controls or results.

 

[rescuecomm]

I can only vouch for the pre-2012 Icom V82, but it was only a basic 2 meter handheld. It did PL and DPL decode, but not much else.

What the knock offs had for electronics after Icom stopped marketing it in 2012 is anyone's guess. Also, this radio model was shown in the hands of Osama Bin Laden himself over 20 years ago in a video done by the Al-Jazeera News agency.

Maybe carrying a simple ham radio like an older model V82 doesn't raise security concerns?

 

[MTS2000des]

Icom Japan's official statement:

https://www.icomjapan.com/news/4203/

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. 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.
My guess is, either dead stock radios intercepted by a third part and injected with the explosives, or Chinaturd ripoff V-82s procured from one of the many Land of the Rat sources for counterfeit products (AliBaba, Ebay, etc) and injected with explosives before final delivery.

Sad that Icom's name is being dragged through the mud but with lots of counterfeits this is what can happen. Icom makes all of their radios in Japan in a single factory as noted in the press release:
All of our radios are manufactured at our production subsidiary, Wakayama Icom Inc., in Wakayama Prefecture, under a strict management system based on ISO 9001/14001/27001, so no parts other than those specified by our company are used in a product. In addition, all of our radios are manufactured at the same factory, and we do not manufacture them overseas.

 

[GlobalNorth]

Pagers and HTs have exploded and there is visual and material evidence of it. There are claims of solar panels, electric pencil sharpeners, microwave ovens, and other devices exploding; but no substantive proof. Rumors run rife in the Middle East and some of it is intentional disinformation.

There are brokers for used autos, electronics, clothing, and other items that resell to customers in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, etc. It would be easy to find a customer for a supply of used XYZ brand goods and tamper with them, prior to delivery to the end user. It is unfortunate that Icom has been drug into this, much like Motorola Solutions was when their portables were seen on Prigozhin and his Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine or Colt Firearms rifles were seen in the hands of Taliban fighters.