After decades of disagreement over maritime borders and the recent gas deal between the
European Union and Israel, the latter and Lebanon have just signed a historical deal setting clear sea borders. Indeed, the two oil sites of Karish and Qana are the main focus of both states. As Israel
made its intention clear that it will exploit both sites, Hezbollah first threatened to target the
offshore installations. Later in July, Hezbollah truly acted on it by sending drones to the Karish
field. Through its actions, the terrorist group has lately appeared as one of the main spoilers of any
accord on maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel. However, a deal has been signed by both
parties. According to the Saudi media Al Arabiya, the agreement has given Israel full control over
the Karish field while the Qana site will go to Lebanon. Yet, one of the main threat to this deal was
and remains an enemy from within Lebanon: Hezbollah. One can therefore wonder to which extent
Hezbollah really had the power to be pulling off the rug from Israel and Lebanon on signing an
agreement as such.
Although it is a surprise to no one that Hezbollah has acquired its power from illegal
activities, it is paramount to the Counter Financial Crime organisation to remind that Hezbollah is
today’s richest terrorist organisation as displayed on the graph below.
Source: Statista on Forbes data
Regarding the funding of Hezbollah, one stream definitely accounts for more than others: the
Islamic Republic of Iran. Approximately 700 millions of dollars a year are given to Hezbollah in the aim to nurture the hegemony of the Shiite world.
Furthermore, many illegal activities enable Hezbollah to appear in some way more independent on
its funding. Indeed, the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011 enabled the terrorist group to enhance its contraband activities in Syria through the shipping of first necessity products such as flour, medications or gas. Hezbollah is also very well represented in Syria through its support to distinct militias engaged in the war.
Another activity profiting the terrorist group is the drug market. Locally and internationally,
Hezbollah is well equipped to smuggle drugs such as the Captagon in the Middle East, and many
others via their contact cartels in South America. For example, the Lebanese Canadian Bank is
famous for receiving drug money onto accounts that directly send the money to Lebanon and thus to
Hezbollah.
Finally, it is very important to understand the level to which Hezbollah is implicated in money
laundering, a technic well-known by most terrorist organisations, although never pushed to this
extreme. Hezbollah has managed to open many international streams of funding through many fake charities or organisations dealing with orphans or other social movements to let the money received from arms and drug traffic transit in “safe” places.
Subsequently, it is paramount to remind that although Hezbollah has nowadays acquired the power to be considered an actor of the Lebanese political life - notably through its presence in parliament - the organisation is also officially recognised as a terrorist group by many prominent states. Among them the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Arab League. It is therefore prohibited to have any engagement with Hezbollah and as stated by the US Department of State under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, “it is a crime to knowingly provide, or to attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources” to Hezbollah.
It is to be celebrated that this Thursday October 27th, both Israel and Lebanon signed the agreement. What is to be celebrated is certainly the refrain of Hezbollah from spoiling the deal. However, it is by spoiling the ongoing Lebanese presidential elections that Hezbollah is now
making its voice heard.
Sarah Rogers
Comments