A trial is currently underway in Celle, northern Germany, involving a Lebanese man identified only as Fadel Z, who faces charges of being a member of Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim group designated as a terrorist organization by the EU. The 35-year-old is accused of having played a significant role in acquiring materials for Hezbollah’s drone program.
According to the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Fadel Z joined Hezbollah over a decade ago, initially working in public relations. In 2022, he reportedly transitioned to a “foreign operator” role for the group’s drone program, first operating from Barcelona, Spain, before relocating to Germany in the summer of 2023. Prosecutors allege that Hezbollah has maintained an extensive drone program for several years, with increased activity following the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In their statements, prosecutors noted that Hezbollah systematically targeted both military and civilian sites in Israel using rockets and drones. By June 2024, it is claimed that the group had accumulated an arsenal exceeding 10,000 drone units. To obtain components for these drones, Hezbollah allegedly utilized foreign operatives to covertly procure products from Europe and export them to Lebanon.
Fadel Z is charged with purchasing materials valued at around €1.4 million, which included over 2,000 motors and 600 propellers sourced from companies in Europe, China, and the United States. He is said to have employed front companies to facilitate these purchases and arrange for transportation of the goods to Lebanon via container ships or air freight.
Among the items attributed to Fadel Z were engines used in explosive drones launched at Israel, including one that impacted a retirement home in Herzliya on October 11, 2024, during Yom Kippur, though no injuries were reported among the residents. Prosecutors classify this incident as aiding and abetting attempted murder.
The trial at the regional court in Celle is projected to continue until August of the following year. Tensions have escalated between Israel and Hezbollah since October 2023, with significant casualties reported on both sides amid ongoing hostilities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg72r6myz4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss