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, in line with 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 stated that Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago, initially working in public relations.
According to prosecutors, Fadel Z became a foreign operator for the group's drone programme in 2022, beginning his operations from Barcelona, Spain, before moving to Germany in the summer of 2023.
The indictment reveals that Hezbollah has been operating an extensive drone program, particularly after Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah reportedly fired rockets and explosive-laden drones at various targets in Israel, amassing an arsenal of over 10,000 drones by June 2024.
Fadel Z is accused of procuring around €1.4 million worth of materials for drone construction, including more than 2,000 motors and 600 propellers, purchased from suppliers in Europe, China, and the US.
He allegedly utilized front companies to facilitate these purchases, transporting the goods to Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based.
Some of the engines acquired by Fadel Z were employed in drone attacks against Israel. Notably, one incident involved a drone crashing into a retirement home in Herzliya during Yom Kippur, although no residents were harmed.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office has classified this as aiding and abetting attempted murder, contributing to charges that could lead to severe penalties.
The trial before the regional court is anticipated to continue until August 2024, reflecting the complex backdrop of ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have escalated in recent months.
As conflict fervor increases, significant implications for regional security remain at stake, particularly in light of the contested narratives surrounding the actions of Hezbollah and its implications within the broader geopolitical landscape.
