Hezbollah in ‘disarray’ after leader’s death. What does it mean for Canada? – National

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Hezbollah in ‘disarray’ after leader’s ******. What does it mean for Canada? – National

Hezbollah could resort to international terrorism following the ******** of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, a top expert warned.

The Lebanese militant group, which has long had a presence in Canada, has lost many of its commanders in recent ******** air strikes.

It’s headquarters was destroyed last week and “they are in disarray,” said Matthew Levitt, author of Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of ****.

“One concern is that if the group is less capable of carrying out cross-border attacks, it could resort to increased acts of international terrorism,” Levitt said in an interview.

“Another concern is that supporters around the world, ****** at the loss of Nasrallah, could carry out attacks on their own.”

The collapse of the powerful Iranian-backed armed group will also be felt in Canada, where Hezbollah has been active since the 1990s.

Story continues below advertisement

Members of Hezbollah’s global network have lost their lines of communications and are likely fearful given *******’s actions, said former intelligence officer Andrew Kirsch.

The former ********* Security Intelligence Service officer said Hezbollah supporters might “take matters into their own hands.”

But he said ********* police were “very much on alert.”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png">

2:09
******* targets Hezbollah leader by bombarding Hezbollah headquarters

Inspired by the Iranian revolution, Hezbollah formed in 1982 in response to *******’s invasion of Lebanon, and has been in conflict with its southern neighbor ever since.

With the backing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah became what the ********* government calls “one of the most technically capable ********** groups in the world.”

It also developed a global network to harness supporters and carry out attacks around the world.

Story continues below advertisement

********* Hezbollah members have taken part in several attacks. They include a

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

wanted for a bus ******** in Bulgaria that ******* five ******** tourists and a local driver.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Another, former Toronto grocer

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, was a ********* and member of the Hezbollah Islamic ****** unit who was ******* fighting in Syria in 2014.

While Hezbollah has not conducted any attacks in Canada, an operative was caught in 2017 collecting details about security at Toronto’s Pearson airport.

More on Canada
More videos

Hezbollah wanted to be ready “in case there’s a problem with Canada,” a member, Mohamed Hussein Al Husseini, told CSIS in the early 1990s.

But Canada was mostly “a facilitation and fundraising hub” for the ******* group, said a 2020 report by the government’s Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre.

While Iran supplies much of Hezbollah’s financing and weapons, it also relies on “numerous material supporters,” according to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.

Story continues below advertisement

“These individuals operate in many countries both within and outside of the Middle East, including Canada,” FINTRAC

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

“In many cases, these individuals are not directly tied to the formal structures of Hezbollah, and operate successful businesses that engage in legitimate commercial activity. Some of the resources these businesses generate, however, are ultimately diverted to support Hezbollah’s official activities.”

Hezbollah also “maintains an international network of charities, non-profit organizations and other organizations sympathetic to its cause. These organizations exist in countries throughout the world, again including Canada,” it said.

Trending Now

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==

Hurricane Helene: At least 56 *****, millions without power as storm batters U.S.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==

Russia warns West of its ‘nuclear power’ in fiery UN speech

With the exception of ISIS, Hezbollah was the ********** group most often identified by FINTRAC monitoring of money flows, with a large portion of the funds going to Lebanon.

“Funds suspected of funding Hezbollah were frequently sent or received by individual/entities referencing ***** of cars or listed in the automotive industry,”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

in 2022.

The group has also used Canada to purchase equipment. In Vancouver, CSIS investigated a cell that was buying night vision goggles and other gear for a Hezbollah purchasing agent in Lebanon.

“Hezbollah has long maintained a particularly active procurement effort in Canada,” Levitt, a former U.S. counterterrorism official, wrote in his book on Hezbollah.

“Not only does the group have a significant pool of members, supporters, and sympathizers in Canada, but the country’s strong position in industry, trade, and finance make it an attractive place to procure dual-use items.”

Story continues below advertisement

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png">

2:05
Who is Hezbollah? A closer look at its role in Lebanon

******* launched its latest offensive against Hezbollah on Sept. 17, when it detonated explosives planted inside thousands of pagers distributed to members.

That was followed by a series of air strikes targeting the Hezbollah leadership in southern Lebanon and Beirut. Nasrallah’s ****** was confirmed on Saturday.

The ******** government defended its actions as a defense against Hezbollah rockets, which had increased since the Oct. 7 ****** *******, forcing the evacuation of parts of northern *******.

The Toronto Police Service would not say whether it had increased security in the city in response to Nasrallah’s ********.

But a spokesperson said the police force “continuously monitors global events and their potential impact on our communities.”

“While we do not comment on specific security measures, we remain in close communication with our community partners and will be increasing our presence where necessary to ensure public safety.”

Story continues below advertisement

Kirsch said police were already keeping close watch for possible threats to Canada’s ******* community, which has been repeatedly targeted during the past year, with attacks on schools and other institutions in B.C., Quebec and Ontario.

“They are extremely attuned to the concerns of the ******* community,” he said of police.

“Just being around the anniversary of Oct. 7, with this still going on, with escalations in parts of the Middle East, I think everyone’s on edge.”

*****@*****.tld

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Hezbollah #disarray #leaders #****** #Canada #National

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up