ICYMI: UANI Identified and Warned of Hezbollah’s Use of Icom-branded Two-Way Radios in 2022


(New York, NY) – As reported this week by the New York Times, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) identified the use of Icom-branded handheld two-way radios by elite Hezbollah “Radwan” units more than two years ago. On Wednesday, 25 Hezbollah terrorists were killed and thousands wounded in a second wave of remote detonations of walkie-talkies, including what appear to be Icom models—following a similar operation on Tuesday that saw thousands of Hezbollah-owned pagers explode.

Given the ubiquity and dominance of Hezbollah over large swathes of Beirut and southern Lebanon, UANI urged Icom in Summer 2022 to terminate all its Lebanese sales and distribution networks, including with applicable offices, representatives, agents, or suppliers.  Such networks provide potential pathways for Hezbollah to acquire Icom devices in support of terrorism and to threaten international security.  In private correspondence and public commentary, UANI raised critical questions about the distribution of such technology with obvious military function into terrorist hands. 

It is natural to ask whether earlier action may have disrupted Hezbollah’s capacities over the preceding 24 months, which despite this week’s blows remain formidable.  The U.S.-designated terror group has launched thousands of missiles into northern Israel since October 7 at an average rate of 47 per day.  Such indiscriminate attacks led to the recent killing of 12 Druze children and has displaced tens of thousands from their homes.

In view of these risks, it remains UANI’s contention that Icom should fully shut down its supply network to Lebanon. Icom must also clarify its advertised ties to Iran’s Faza Gostar company, which purports to be Icom’s official representative in Iran, Hezbollah’s primary patron.

Furthermore, given its extensive business operations in the United States—with offices in Washington State and New Jersey, tens of millions of dollars in annual revenues, and direct sales from Icom America to Federal, State and Local government agencies—Icom must ensure full transparency and explain what measures it intends to take to ensure its products do not fall into the wrong hands.

To read UANI’s “Risky Business” release dated July 11, 2022, click here.