A Lebanese man has gone on trial in Celle, northern Germany, accused of being a member of Hezbollah - a Shia Muslim group whose military wing is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the EU.
The 35-year-old man, named only as Fadel Z to respect German privacy laws, is charged with having played a key role in procuring products for Hezbollah's drone programme.
The German Federal Prosecutor's Office reported that Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than ten years ago, initially working in public relations before becoming a foreign operator for the group's drone programme in 2022, first based in Barcelona before moving to Germany in the summer of 2023.
Hezbollah has been reportedly running an extensive drone programme, which gained further notoriety following Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Prosecutors allege that subsequent to these attacks, Hezbollah systematically attacked military and civilian targets in Israel using drones.
By June 2024, Hezbollah had reportedly built an arsenal of over 10,000 drone units. To support this initiative, Fadel Z is accused of purchasing around €1.4 million worth of drone construction materials and components from companies across Europe, China, and the US.
The prosecution claim that Fadel Z not only organized the procurement but also arranged for the transportation of these items to Lebanon, where Hezbollah is headquartered, using front companies and various payment methods.
Significantly, two engines he bought were used in drones that targeted Israel, including one that struck a retirement home in Herzliya on Yom Kippur, although it did not cause any injuries.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office describes these actions as aiding and abetting attempted murder. The trial is expected to continue until August next year amidst an atmosphere of escalating conflict, as Hezbollah and Israel exchange hostilities ignited by the October 2023 events.
The escalation of violence has resulted in significant casualties on both sides and intensifies scrutiny of Hezbollah's foreign operations and their ramifications on regional security.
