The Japanese electronics manufacturer Icom said it stopped making the walkie-talkie model in 2014 and has warned about fake versions for several years.

The radios being blown up are reportedly IC-V82 radios manufactured by ICOM. This is a VHF transceiver and is typically used for ham radio communication - meaning it is typically used by amateurs who use it for fun or personal interest, rather than for commercial or emergency broadcasting.

Icom Inc., whose brand appears on devices that exploded in Lebanon, said it halted production a decade ago of the model allegedly used in the attacks.