UANI Resource: Hezbollah’s Western Footprint Remains A Threat

Cuba, Mexico, Golden Hydra Region Amplifies Iran-Backed Hezbollah’s Influence

(New York, N.Y.) – Earlier this month, the Trump administration blacklisted multiple individuals and entities linked to the Lebanese branch of the Martyrs Foundation, which makes payments to families of killed or imprisoned Hezbollah terrorists. The designation, along with a separate indictment last week against a U.S. government linguist contractor for allegedly transmitting highly-classified national defense material to an operative with close ties Hezbollah, is a reminder that Tehran’s terror proxy maintains complex global funding and influence operations – particularly in the West. With President Trump slated to have dinner with Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro this weekend, thwarting Hezbollah’s network in the Americas should top the agenda.

Hezbollah takes advantage of the relationships that Iran has with anti-American regimes in Cuba and Venezuela to establish bases of operations, and relies on a popular – though artificial – distinction between the so-called military and political wings of Hezbollah to maintain and elevate its influence throughout the Americas. European, Asian and African nations propagate this nonexistent separation even though Hezbollah’s own leadership has rejected it, but the problem is particularly acute in the Americas.

Though no longer classified as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the U.S. Department of State, a 2015 congressional review of U.S.-Cuba policy noted that Cuba provides intelligence to Hezbollah, coordinates with others to raise funds and facilitates Hezbollah’s travel in the region. Venezuela, along with Cuba, also works to provide funding for Hezbollah operations as part of its strategic alliance with Iran. Mexico has permitted Hezbollah to align with the Los Zetas drugs cartel, which it trains in the use of terror tactics more commonly associated with the Middle East. And Hezbollah has made significant headway in the “Golden Hydra,” the Tri-Border Area (TBA) that straddles the intersection of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

Hezbollah has reportedly operated out of South America’s TBA since the mid-1980s. Specifically, Hezbollah members have reportedly raised money and recruited from within Brazil. According to a 2013 report by murdered Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, Iran uses Hezbollah to carry out intelligence activities in Brazil and other South American countries. The TBA’s significant historical and ongoing funding sources for Hezbollah and other terror organizations should make it a security priority for nation states and multilateral organizations that have the mandate to disrupt the funding of terrorism, including the U.S., the UN and the EU.

The TBA has also become a regional crime fusion center where corrupt politicians work with drug cartels from Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, as well as organized crime groups from China, in conjunction with a large Lebanese merchant community, part of which gives support to Hezbollah. The region is in close proximity to the world’s main source of cocaine, which Hezbollah has taken an active role in trafficking. More than 1,500 bricks of cocaine concealed in carbon bags from Cuba were confiscated as recently as May 2019 by the Panamanian Naval Services that were headed for Turkey.

UANI’s resource, Eye On Hezbollah, outlines the history of Hezbollah’s activity, support and funding. UANI recognizes the need to more closely monitor Hezbollah’s activity in Cuba and Latin America as illicit and criminal activity continues to integrate itself into governments and communities across Latin America.

To read UANI’s Eye On Hezbollah resource, please click here.