A court in Germany has handed down a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence to a Lebanese national for his affiliation with Hezbollah. This Shia militia group’s military wing is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union.
The 35-year-old individual, identified as Fadel Z in accordance with German privacy regulations, was also convicted of aiding and abetting attempted murder. His sentence further includes penalties for numerous breaches of European Union embargo regulations.
Procurement for Hezbollah’s Drone Program
Proceedings in the northern German town of Celle revealed that Fadel Z joined Hezbollah a decade ago. He was found to have played a significant role in acquiring components for the group’s drone initiatives.
Prosecutors alleged that Fadel Z was responsible for purchasing materials valued at €1.4 million (£1.2 million) specifically for drone construction. The prosecutors detailed that these acquisitions included over 2,000 petrol and electric motors, along with more than 600 propellers.
Reports emerging from German media indicated that Fadel Z acknowledged the deliveries he facilitated.
“Foreign Operator” Activities
According to the prosecution, Fadel Z, whose most recent address was in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, functioned as a “foreign operator” for Hezbollah’s drone program starting in 2022. His initial operations were conducted from Barcelona, Spain, before he relocated his activities to Germany in the summer of 2023.
The components Fadel Z procured originated from companies located in Europe, China, and the United States. To facilitate these transactions, he reportedly utilized front companies registered under his own name or those of his associates. Payment for the suppliers was also channeled through these entities.
Prosecutors stated that Fadel Z also arranged for the shipment of these goods to Lebanon. Transport methods included container ships departing from ports in Hamburg or Spain, as well as air freight.
Link to Attacks on Israel
The court heard evidence that two of the engines procured by Fadel Z were subsequently used in explosive drones deployed by Hezbollah against Israel. One such drone was directed towards a retirement home in Herzliya, a town near Tel Aviv. This incident occurred on the night of October 11, 2024, during the Jewish Holy Day of Yom Kippur.
Although the explosive device detonated within the building, all approximately 200 residents present at the time escaped injury. Consequently, Fadel Z was convicted for his role in aiding and abetting attempted murder in relation to this specific drone attack.
He now has a one-week period to decide whether to appeal the court’s verdict. During this time, he will remain in custody.
Hezbollah’s Extensive Drone Program
Earlier statements from the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office highlighted that Hezbollah has maintained an “extensive drone program for some time.” Following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, the office noted that Hezbollah had been “systematically firing rockets and explosive-laden drones at both military and civilian targets in Israel.”
The prosecution further explained that to acquire components for these drones, “the organization employs foreign operatives who covertly purchase components in Europe and export them to Lebanon.”