The growing scope and scale of Hezbollah’s operations in South America, notably in Venezuela and now Colombia, has the potential to act as a major destabilizing force within the region. Lawlessness, violence, and chronic socioeconomic inequality have long weighed on economic development in the region. Hezbollah’s growing regional influence bolsters Iran’s presence in Latin America allowing it to challenge regional U.S. hegemony, adding an additional destabilizing force to an already volatile part of the world. By Matthew Smith. Full Text -> BayStreet

Traducción de cortesía -> El alcance y la escala crecientes de las operaciones de Hezbolá en América del Sur, especialmente en Venezuela y ahora en Colombia, tienen el potencial de actuar como una importante fuerza desestabilizadora dentro de la región. La anarquía, la violencia y la desigualdad socioeconómica crónica han lastrado durante mucho tiempo el desarrollo económico de la región. La creciente influencia regional de Hezbolá refuerza la presencia de Irán en América Latina, lo que le permite desafiar la hegemonía regional de los EE. UU., agregando una fuerza desestabilizadora adicional a una parte del mundo ya volátil.

La comitiva que acompaña al presidente colombiano Iván Duque a Israel, cuenta con el ministro de la Defensa, Diego Molano. Éste llevó entre sus principales temas a tratar con su homólogo israelí, la presencia de Hezbollah en Venezuela. Ambas naciones tienen claro que la presencia del grupo en el país suramericano es gracias al apoyo dado por Nicolás Maduro. Según Blu Radio de Colombia, ambos titulares de Defensa trataron el tema y afinaron estrategias para mantener el monitoreo sobre este grupo radical islámico. Texto Completo -> PrimerInfome

Courtesy Translation->

The delegation that accompanies Colombian President Iván Duque to Israel includes Defense Minister Diego Molano. He had, among his main issues to discuss with his Israeli counterpart, the presence of Hezbollah in Venezuela. Both nations are clear that the group’s presence in the South American country is thanks to the support given by Nicolás Maduro. According to Blu Radio de Colombia, both holders of Defense discussed the issue and fine-tuned strategies to keep monitoring this radical Islamic group.

En un informe elaborado por la Comisión de Seguridad e Inteligencia del Gobierno interino de Venezuela al que tuvo acceso exclusivo Primer Informe, se detalla el rol polivalente de El Aissami para facilitar la presencia del grupo terrorista Hezbolá en Venezuela. Texto Completo -> Primer Informe

Courtesy translation-> In a report prepared by the Security and Intelligence Commission of the Interim Government of Venezuela to which the First Report had exclusive access, the multi-purpose role of El Aissami in facilitating the presence of the Hezbollah terrorist group in Venezuela is detailed.

In an operation the hackers said had been carried out in cooperation with former state intelligence officials, access was gained to the country’s Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence. Among the information they uncovered was that Hezbollah operatives had entered the country as Spanish-language students under the cover of “government language studies programs” via Margarita Island, a member of the hacker ring told Israel Hayom.. By Damian Pachter. Full Text-> JNS

Traducción de cortesía -> En una operación que los piratas informáticos dijeron se llevó a cabo en cooperación con ex funcionarios de inteligencia del estado, se obtuvo acceso a la Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar del país. Entre la información que descubrieron estaba que los operativos de Hezbollah habían ingresado al país como estudiantes de español, bajo la cobertura de “programas gubernamentales de estudios de idiomas” a través de la Isla de Margarita, informó un miembro de la red de hackers a Israel Hayom.

The Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela maintains an extensive relationship with several foreign terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah and its terror sponsor the Islamic Republic of Iran. The relationship is centered on a strategic partnership between the Maduro regime and the Ayatollah’s of Iran providing Hezbollah members, sympathizers, financiers, and fixers, assistance with the covert movement of people, products, money, and materials. Full Text-> Center for a Secure Free Society

Their rapidly expanding ties to Venezuela’s Maduro regime, which is “geo-strategically located right at the heart” of Central America and South America, are central to this ambition. Much like the “land bridge” they have through Syria is logistically vital to their influence in the Middle East, “Venezuela is their air bridge into the Western hemisphere.” Instead of partnering mainly with Islamist groups, as it does in the Middle East, Iran has increasingly partnered with “drug cartels … [and] old former communist networks.” By Gary C. Gambill. Full Text-> MiddleEastForum

Attorney-general who has served Chávez and Maduro defends country’s human rights record. By Gideon Long . Full text -> Financial Times

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that, under anti-American Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, “Hezbollah has active cells” and that, with their actions, “the Iranians are affecting the peoples of Venezuela and throughout South America.” By Eric Mandel . Full text -> The Hill

 State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said it is necessary for more countries in the region to declare Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Ortagus said that the government in dispute of Nicolas Maduro, gives “safe haven” to members of Hezbollah. Full text -> En24 News

Venezuela has close ties with Iran who are raging over the death of their military leader Qassem Soleimani. Terrorist group Hezbollah are known to be operating in the South American country. by Tim Hanlon. Full text -> Daily Star