Kuwait's Interior Ministry announced Monday the arrest of 16 individuals allegedly linked to Hezbollah, marking the Gulf state's most significant security operation targeting the Lebanese militant group in recent years.
The cell included 14 Kuwaiti nationals and two Lebanese citizens, according to a ministry statement. Security forces seized firearms, ammunition, encrypted communication devices, drones, maps, militant group flags, cash, and narcotics during raids conducted with judicial authorization.
Investigators allege the network was engaged in recruiting individuals to join Hezbollah and attempting to spread unrest with "an organized plot aimed at undermining national security and destabilizing the country," the ministry stated. Suspects have been referred to public prosecution as investigations continue.
The operation signals heightened Gulf Cooperation Council vigilance over Iranian-aligned networks following escalating regional tensions and recent Iranian missile strikes on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Kuwait has historically maintained more permissive policies toward Hezbollah compared to neighboring Gulf states, with the group's supporters holding some political influence within Kuwait's Shia community. The arrests represent a notable shift in Kuwait City's security posture.
In this region, today's headline is yesterday's history repeating. Gulf states severed most overt ties with Hezbollah after the group's deepening involvement in Syria's civil war alongside Iran. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization in 2016, though Kuwait stopped short of a full ban.
