|
Trending Topics
|
How U.S. Strikes in Venezuela Impact Hizbullah and Iran
(Substack) Stephen Bryen - According to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the U.S. struck a facility in or near the port city of Maracaibo linked to the assembly of Iranian drones. Hizbullah was responsible for setting up domestic assembly for Iranian-designed drones such as the ANSU-100 at Maracaibo. Hizbullah operatives provided the expertise needed to weaponize these drones. Hizbullah also ran a Margarita Island facility which served as Hizbullah's most critical operational base in the Western Hemisphere. The facility was a hub for document forgery, allowing operatives to obtain Venezuelan identification and travel throughout Latin America undetected. There was a paramilitary training center on the island, managed by the Nassereddine clan (a family with deep ties to Hizbullah and senior Venezuelan officials). In addition, the facility was also a consequential money laundering operation. The writer is a former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense.