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 said Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago, first working in public relations. In a statement, prosecutors said he became a foreign operator for the group's drone programme in 2022, first operating from Barcelona, Spain, and later from Germany.
Prosecutors allege that Hezbollah has been running an extensive drone programme for some time and began systematically attacking both military and civilian targets in Israel following Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023. The group supposedly amassed an arsenal of over 10,000 drone units by June 2024.
Fadel Z is accused of procuring materials, including over 2,000 motors and 600 propellers, valued at approximately €1.4 million, using front companies to process orders and transport them to Lebanon. Key components linked to drone attacks in Israel are attributed to his activities before his arrest in July 2024.
The trial at the regional court in Celle is expected to last until August of next year, continuing amidst the backdrop of escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
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 said Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago, first working in public relations. In a statement, prosecutors said he became a foreign operator for the group's drone programme in 2022, first operating from Barcelona, Spain, and later from Germany.
Prosecutors allege that Hezbollah has been running an extensive drone programme for some time and began systematically attacking both military and civilian targets in Israel following Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023. The group supposedly amassed an arsenal of over 10,000 drone units by June 2024.
Fadel Z is accused of procuring materials, including over 2,000 motors and 600 propellers, valued at approximately €1.4 million, using front companies to process orders and transport them to Lebanon. Key components linked to drone attacks in Israel are attributed to his activities before his arrest in July 2024.
The trial at the regional court in Celle is expected to last until August of next year, continuing amidst the backdrop of escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
