Tucson Police Department
Tucson Urban Area Security Initiative
September 20, 2010
“One Team – One Mission”
Literally meaning “Party of God”, Hezbollah began as a militia in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The Shi’a Islamist organization has since grown into a worldwide political and paramilitary network with seats in the Lebanese government, numerous social services programs, long-standing ties with the Syrian and Iranian governments, and an annual income estimated to be anywhere between $200-$400 million.
Hezbollah’s main goal is to cast out any form of Israeli rule and/or occupation. Due to the U.S.’ political and financial support of Israel, Hezbollah regards our nation as a viable target.
While there is no immediate or confirmed threat to the Tucson area, recent events and the current middleeastern political arena merit a renewed awareness of the group’s capabilities and presence throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Recent Events
-April 2009 Jamal Yousef is charged in New York City for plotting to sell high-powered weapons to the Colombian FARC in exchange for more than a ton of cocaine.
-February 2010 Iran successfully produces first batch of 20% enriched uranium.
-June 2010 U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick writes letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
asking for further investigation of Hezbollah’s potential threat and presence along the U.S. Mexico border.
-June 2010 Lebanese-American, Moussa Ali Hamdan, is arrested in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, for conspiring to provide material support to Hezbollah.
-July 2010 Hezbollah operative, Jameel Nasr, is arrested in Mexico for attempting to establish
network in South America.
-Sept. 2010 Russia approves sale of advanced cruise missiles to Syria.
Due to its close relation to the two countries, Iran’s constant development of enriched uranium and Syria’s acquisition of advanced cruise missiles potentially pose Hezbollah as their military enforcer.
Presence in Mexico
Based on a study done by Georgetown University, the number of immigrants from Lebanon and Syria living in Mexico exceeds 200,000. Along with Iran, Syria is one of Hezbollah’s strongest financial and political supporters, and Lebanon is its country of origin.
In July of this year, Mexican authorities arrested Jameel Nasr in Tijuana, Baja California. Nasr was alleged to be tasked with establishing the Hezbollah network in Mexico and throughout South America. In April of last year, the arrest of Jamal Yousef – in New York City - exposed a weapons cache of 100 M-16 assault rifles, 100 AR-15 rifles, 2,500 hand grenades, C4 explosives and antitank munitions. According to Yousef, the weapons, which were being stored in Mexico, had been stolen from Iraq with the help of his cousin who was a member of Hezbollah.
With the arrest of Jameel Nasr and Jamal Yousef, obvious concerns have arisen concerning Hezbollah’s presence in Mexico and possible ties to Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO’s) operating along the U.S. – Mexico border. The potential partnership bares alarming implications due to Hezbollah’s long established capabilities, specifically their expertise in the making of vehicle borne improvised explosive devises (VBIED’s).
Recent incidents involving the use of VBIED’s in Mexico mark a significant change in tactics employed by DTO’s and conjures images expected to be seen in the Middle East. While no connection has been made, Hezbollah’s extensive use of VBIED’s raises strong suspicion concerning a possible relation to Mexico’s DTO’s.
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