Hezbollah Operative Detained in Thailand

By William Tucker

Thai authorities have detained a Lebanese national on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks. The individual was detained after an investigation began in late December after a tip from the Israelis. As of now, the individual has only been detained because of his immigration status and not formally arrested. This could change later today, however, as Thai police were led to a large cache of bomb making materials by the suspect. These materials include ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil which is commonly used as an effective improvised explosive. Hezbollah has used this type of bomb in the past in Argentina and other areas where the militant group has struck. As of now, there has been no stated connection to Thailand’s southern insurgency. Using local connections would help an operative to acquire needed materials, but it also increases the likelihood that the attack would be disrupted. Such was the case in the Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S.

Hezbollah certainly has a long history of successfully launching attacks far beyond their home in Lebanon, but a series of disrupted plots and miscalculations have called the group’s international capabilities into question. The failure of Hezbollah to retaliate for the assassination of Imad Mughniyah in 2008 is one such example of this. Discussion over the possibility of a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities has brought increased scrutiny on Hezbollah as Tehran may use the group as an arm of international retaliation. Hezbollah certainly has their political standing in Lebanon to consider, but the funding and training Iran provides to the group may trump domestic desires. It is possible that this recent plot was being set up in anticipation of a strike on Iran, thus allowing for a quick retaliatory strike, but information on that possibility is not available at the present. As tension between Iran and the U.S., Israel, the Arab states, etc., continues apace we should keep an eye on Iranian and Hezbollah moves worldwide.