U.S. intelligence officials are reportedly becoming increasingly concerned that Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Islamic terrorist group based in Lebanon, could launch terrorist attacks inside the U.S. homeland as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise in the months following Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Politico reported that officials believe that Hezbollah, which has a large arsenal of rockets and other military equipment, would likely target U.S. personnel in the Middle East first, but they have encountered information indicating that Hezbollah could be planning attacks inside the U.S. or on U.S. officials overseas.
“The arrests of individuals in the United States allegedly linked to Hezbollah’s main overseas terrorist arm, and their intelligence-collection and procurement efforts, demonstrate Hezbollah’s interest in long-term contingency planning activities here in the homeland,” FBI director Chris Wray said in a congressional hearing on November 15.
The terror group has “capabilities that other terrorist groups in the region do not” because of the significant funding Hezbollah receives from Iran every year, believed to be near $1 billion.
The terrorist group has various operatives in its expansive terror network that are already inside the United States, which officials worry the group could activate for attacks.
“Hezbollah could draw on the capability they have … to put people [in] places to do something,” one of the officials told Politico. “It is something to be worried about.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
Since October 17, Iranian-backed terrorist groups throughout the Middle East have launched at least 127 attacks against U.S. forces, attacks that have been emboldened by the Biden administration’s unwillingness to punch back hard to deter future attacks.
The terrorist group has conducted major attacks throughout the Middle East, Europe, and South America for decades.
Hezbollah bombed the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, in April 1983, killing 78 Americans and injuring 120. Several months later, in October 1983, they bombed the U.S. Marine Corps. barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans and injuring 70.