Military Actions in Venezuela and Hezbollah’s Future

In a significant development, elite U.S. military forces apprehended former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Following this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported Lebanese terrorist group, would no longer have operations in Venezuela.

Hezbollah has a notorious history, being behind the bombing of the U.S. embassy that resulted in 63 fatalities, as well as the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, which claimed 241 American lives. Rubio expressed on CBS’ Face the Nation that under the Trump administration, there won’t be a space like Venezuela where Hezbollah, Iran, and other adverse influences can thrive. He reiterated to NBC’s Meet the Press that this means, essentially, “no more Iranian or Hezbollah presence” in the country.

Walid Fares, a notable expert on Hezbollah and adviser to U.S. presidential candidates, mentioned to Fox News Digital that Hezbollah has been ingrained in Venezuela since the mid-1980s, originating from the Lebanese community there. Over the years, particularly post-2002 with Chávez in power, Hezbollah’s foothold grew. Reports indicated that some members managed to infiltrate Venezuelan state institutions, obtaining passports and legal documents that expanded their networks across Latin America, even extending toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

Fares pointed out that Hezbollah likely maintains a strong presence in various Venezuelan regions, including command units within Caracas. Additionally, there are claims of Venezuela collaborating with Hezbollah in operations aimed at Iranian dissidents abroad, including attempts at kidnappings and blackmail in the Western Hemisphere.

After Maduro’s capture, Hezbollah condemned what it referred to as a “terrorist attack” and expressed solidarity with Venezuela against American aggression. This highlights the tensions that are expected to rise following the recent military actions.

As discussions arise on how to rid Venezuela of Hezbollah operatives, experts like Juárez suggest relying on transitional authorities. However, the role of U.S. intelligence agencies is predicted to be pivotal in tackling the pro-Iranian networks within the country.

Matthew Levitt, a Hezbollah scholar, noted that the future trajectory would largely depend on the upcoming administration. There exists a chance to confront Hezbollah’s enduring presence in Venezuela and also the broader strategic ties between Venezuela and Iran.

Further complicating matters, Carrie Filippetti highlighted how the Iranian and Maduro regimes worked in tandem to provide safe harbor for Hezbollah fighters, which allowed Hezbollah to exploit Venezuela’s lawlessness for drug trafficking-related money laundering. This included obtaining Venezuelan passports for their members.

Filippetti also mentioned that a previous plan to kidnap Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad involved transporting her to Caracas, attributing the operational ease to the Maduro regime. The future of Hezbollah’s operations in Venezuela will significantly depend on whether the Maduro regime’s insiders are allowed to retain their power.