A recent hack exposed complex Asian supply chains linked to Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies. These devices played a role in an attack that killed 37 people and injured 3,000 in Lebanon. Tracing the origins of outdated technology presents challenges. Newer products undergo stricter oversight, while older electronics often flow through poorly managed supply chains filled with counterfeits and surplus inventory.
Gold Apollo, a Taiwan-based company, blamed a European licensee for the compromised pagers, which triggered investigations across several countries. Japan’s Icom has yet to confirm the authenticity of the walkie-talkies used. The flood of counterfeit products complicates verification efforts. Experts assert that infiltrating these supply chains is relatively easy. One technologist noted that adding explosives to such devices poses little difficulty.
Hezbollah purchased the pagers and radios five months ago, believing they came from reputable manufacturers. Preliminary investigations indicate that the explosives were added before the devices reached Lebanon, though the exact timing of weaponization remains unclear. Analysts observe that smaller brands often struggle to monitor counterfeits and invest less in intellectual property protection compared to larger, more advanced companies. Courtesy of Aljazeera
Also read: Suspected al-Shabaab Attack in Mandera Leaves Four Injured
