Hezbollah rejects Emirati allegations of operating a secret presence within the UAE

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Since its creation in 1982, the Iranian-backed militia has been a formidable foe of Israel. PHOTO: AFP

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Hezbollah denied on Friday that it has a presence inside the United Arab Emirates, after Emirati authorities announced they had arrested at least five members of a “terrorist network” linked to Hezbollah and its backer, Iran.

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Earlier this week, Hezbollah issued similar denials that it maintained a presence in Kuwait, after Kuwaiti authorities announced the discovery of two alleged cells linked to the group, arresting a combined 26 people.

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In a statement, the Lebanese militant group said it “denies the fabricated accusations made against it by the security authorities in the United Arab Emirates”.

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“Hezbollah has no presence inside the UAE or in any other country under any cover or commercial designation or otherwise.”

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According to Emirati authorities, the alleged network had “sought to infiltrate the national economy and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial stability” as part of “a pre-established strategic plan in coordination with external parties linked to Hezbollah and Iran”, the official WAM news agency said, citing the UAE State Security Apparatus.

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In recent years, the Lebanese government has had tensions with Gulf states, which have expressed concern about Hezbollah projecting influence outside of Lebanon.

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AFP

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