Brazilian Suspect in Hezbollah Case Claims He Was Hired for 'Killing and Kidnapping'

A person arrested this week in Brazil on terrorism charges confessed to the Brazilian Federal Police that he traveled to Beirut in April to meet someone believed to be a leader of Hezbollah. He told the police that this Hezbollah leader 'recruits individuals capable of killing and kidnapping.' Brazil arrested two individuals on Wednesday in an operation to dismantle a suspicious cell linked to Hezbollah that allegedly intended to attack Jewish targets in Brazil. The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad issued a highly unusual statement on the same day, stating that it assisted Brazil in thwarting an attack. The suspect, who refused to have a lawyer during questioning, told the police: 'I traveled to Beirut in April, apparently coordinated by someone with a Paraguayan phone number.' He also mentioned during the interrogation that 'the invitation for the trip was vague, but he believed it was an attempt to recruit him by a terrorist organization. He said that after learning about the 'type of activity,' he refrained from carrying out the task.' The suspect indicated that he believes this organization was Hezbollah. He also reported meeting someone in São Paulo who gave him $400 in cash and 200 reais ($40) for the trip, with all expenses including flight and hotel covered by the inviting party, and during the trip, he received $600 and was tasked with buying a taxi 'to gather information from people.' Alireza Nourizadeh: The Islamic Republic has never dared to fire a bullet at Israel. Tensions in northern Israel have decreased contrary to the statements of the Iranian Foreign Minister; report by Arash Sigarchi. Mossad and security services thwarted Hezbollah's terrorist attack plan in Brazil. Amir-Abdollahian: There is a possibility of losing control by all parties. Escalation of conflicts in Israel; citizens from dozens of countries are leaving Israel and Gaza.