Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has directly accused venezuela of acting as a crucial hub for terrorist groups operating in South America, including Hezbollah, hamas, and the Houthi rebels. The allegations, made during an official visit too Paraguay, raise significant concerns about expanding foreign influence in the region and potential security implications for latin America. saar alleges a growing network of “narco-terrorism” with Venezuela at its center, citing statements from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as supporting evidence of the country’s alignment with thes groups.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Venezuela of serving as a key link in South America for groups including Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as Yemen’s Houthi rebels, labeling all three as “terrorist states.” The allegations, made during a visit to Paraguay, highlight growing concerns about the expansion of Middle Eastern influence in Latin America.
Speaking before Paraguayan lawmakers on Monday, Saar stated, “In South America, criminals are building alliances of narco-terrorism with the Middle East. The nexus of this network is Venezuela.”
Venezuela Accused of Functioning as a Hezbollah Base
Saar further asserted that Venezuela has destabilized the region through a refugee crisis and operates as “the base for Hezbollah’s terrorist operations.” He cited Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s own statements as evidence, quoting Maduro as saying, “Venezuela is part of the axis of resistance.”
The Israeli Foreign Minister explained that Israel is currently facing what it considers three state-sponsored terrorist groups: Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen. He emphasized that these entities “are not simply terrorist organizations,” but rather “cooperate with each other as a network of terrorism.”
According to Saar, this collaboration extends beyond the Middle East, reaching into Africa, Latin America, and beyond. “Today, terrorist states are not focused solely on areas they control, but threaten the region and the world,” he added.
Saar’s visit to Paraguay, his first as Foreign Minister, included a meeting with President Santiago Peña and his counterpart, Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano. He was accompanied by a business delegation as part of a regional tour that will continue with a stop in Argentina. The accusations against Venezuela could complicate diplomatic efforts in the region and potentially lead to increased scrutiny of Caracas’s international relationships.
The allegations come amid growing reports of increased activity by groups like Hezbollah as detailed in recent expert testimony to the U.S. Senate.
