Batteries catch fire. Very large ones, or many cells together can mean a very hot, very dangerous fire, with the occasional violence of a cell bursting.

Being in close contact with something like a phone when that happens would cause burns, but they don't "explode" with very much force. (Relatively speaking. You wouldn't get lethal fragmentation for example, I don't think)

The note 7 batteries didn't really go boom in the way an actual explosive does, though the reaction is a sudden and fast release of thermal energy, its not that much energy in terms of explosive devices.

So no. You can't "hack" a phone and turn it into a bomb using just the hardware that is already inside. You could start a fire, and that could be deadly, but as an explosive device the battery in most phones is not that potent.

Wow. Jeez. I'm sorry this is so close to you.

can they do that to phones, without the phones being rigged?

I'm not any kind of expert. But as others in this post have said, theoretically... possibly technically yes. If the firmware can be modified remotely to cause the phone to allow, for instance, overcharging the battery, then it's possible the phone could be made to explode without physical access to the phone.

How likely it is that you or your family specifically would be targeted, I couldn't say. It seems unlikely...? And we don't have specific knowledge that Isreal has tried any such attacks that didn't involve direct physical access to the devices which later exploded. (And also no indication they've targeted any Samsung devices.)

Again, I'm no expert, but if you wanted to take precautions, I'm thinking the precautions to take would be to put any mobile devices that contain rechargeable batteries and have wireless connectivity far away from your house and your family and stick to devices with no batteries (and preferably ones you've had for a "long time") for a while.

I'm sorry you're in a situation where you're having to weigh these risks. Again, it seems unlikely that you and your family could be in danger regarding ostensibly-stock Samsung phones that you've had for a while.

Also, no condemnation is strong enough for this indiscriminate attack by Isreal on the people of Lebanon. Netanyahu must really be heartless to have authorized this. I hope this results in real pressure on Isreal to stop its indiscriminate terrorist acts.

Good luck and stay safe.

Edit: Hmm. Not sure why I'm getting downvoted so much. Maybe the downvoters think I'm making it sound more likely than is realistic that there's a threat to Peepo specifically?

Not really saying otherwise. What I am saying is that for your electronic devices to have "explosives" in them would require that a supplychain attack of a similar sort.

It's almost definitely not the case that any electronics manufacturers are systematically putting explosives in every smartphone or whatever that they manufacture and supplychain attacks are much more likely to be a targeted thing rather than "all Samsung phones" or whatever. If they weren't targeted, it's pretty certain that the presence of explosives in devices would be noticed even just by regular end-users with a bit of a tinkering proclivity within weeks. So if your devices are more than a couple of months old have been in reasonably normal use for most of that time and you haven't been specifically targeted by any particular government or anyone who might have the ability to tamper with the supplychain, you're almost certainly safe specifically from explosive-laced consumer electronics devices.

Also, it seems unlikely that a state police agency (like the "sheriffs" you're talking about) could leverage enough power to compel an electronics company to allow such a thing without the FBI or DHS involved. I'd imagine state police folks would more likely resort to more low-tech approaches like the Tulsa race massacre air firebombing.

Again, I'm not saying it's impossible that your phone contains explosives. And as I said in another comment, it might be possible to remotely get a device to cause its battery to catch fire. Maybe.

Also, I am in the U.S., but what made you think that was the case?

Ah yes, being heavily criticized for encouraging people to send illegal immigrants to Democrats' houses is the same thing as setting up an explosives front