Kuwait Expels 14 Lebanese and Iraqis on Suspicion of Ties to Hezbollah

A Kuwaiti newspaper reported on Monday, March 22, that the country has expelled 11 Lebanese and three Iraqis on suspicion of connections to the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. This incident occurs three weeks after Kuwait, along with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. According to Reuters, the newspaper Al-Qabas cited a security source stating that the expulsion was carried out at the request of Kuwait's intelligence service. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has not commented on this matter. On March 2, the GCC listed Hezbollah, which is allied with Iran and fights alongside Syrian government forces against opponents of Bashar al-Assad, as a terrorist organization. The Arab League also made a similar decision on March 11. Member countries of this council, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, had previously imposed sanctions on Hezbollah in 2013. On February 26, Saudi Arabia announced that it had added four companies and three Lebanese nationals to its sanctions list due to their connections with Hezbollah. Al-Qabas added that Kuwait's intelligence agency has prepared a list of Lebanese and Iraqis 'wanted' including advisors from major companies who should be expelled 'in the interest of public safety.' Abdul Latif al-Zayani, the Secretary-General of the GCC, accused Hezbollah of attempting to recruit young people for terrorist activities in member states, trafficking weapons and explosives, and inciting chaos, violence, and political unrest. Hezbollah described the GCC's decision as 'illegitimate and hostile' and attributed these actions to Saudi Arabia. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated on March 4 that 'those who label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization have, knowingly or unknowingly, targeted Lebanon's unity and security.' Last week, Bahrain also expelled an unspecified number of Lebanese residents on charges of affiliation with Hezbollah, and Riyadh warned that it would take action against citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia who support or declare their affiliation with the group. In February, Saudi Arabia halted a $3 billion military aid program to the Lebanese army in protest against Hezbollah's presence in the political structure of the country. In this context, Saudi Arabia sanctioned four companies and three Lebanese nationals for their connections to Hezbollah.