(Caracas) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday called on the army and security forces to adapt to “new forms” of technologies and attacks, notably those seen in Lebanon against Hezbollah.
In combat gear during a military ceremony, Mr. Maduro discussed a report intended for his Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, prepared by the National Cybersecurity Council on the simultaneous explosion of pagers, walkie-talkies and others Hezbollah transmission devices in Lebanon.
This document sets out “the reasons for the attack on radios, pagers, walkie-talkies, cell phones of a specific brand that they planted for years and which attacked thousands of civilians within the population,” Mr. Maduro said.
“This is an attack using a component of the device with an explosive and also using satellites, in this case of Elon Musk, we have a lot of information from the intelligence services,” assured President Maduro .
He urged the armed forces to “review all the equipment that has been purchased, all the equipment that exists and maximum comprehensive cybersecurity, maximum security.”
Explosions of Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies in September left 37 people dead and some 3,000 injured.
Mr. Maduro had previously asked members of his government and his supporters not to accept electronic equipment as Christmas gifts.
He also ordered the armed forces, considered the pillar of his power, to “reorganize and readapt intelligence processes” to adapt “to the new circumstances of the 21st century.”
Mr. Maduro also welcomed the progress made on drones: “We are rapidly advancing the capabilities of drones for national defense and we must have anti-drone defense in all vital objectives: airports, ports, it is very important.”
“We reiterate our loyalty to him” (to Maduro), declared for his part General Padrino Lopez on behalf of the armed forces.