Hezbollah denies UAE accusations of having network in country

Hezbollah denies 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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

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