UAE says it dismantled terrorist network funded by Iran and Hezbollah
Abu Dhabi says network tried to infiltrate its economy, ‘carry out external schemes’; Hezbollah denies having personnel in UAE
BEIRUT, Lebanon — United Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they have dismantled what they call a terrorist network funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group and by Iran, and arrested its members.
According to the WAM state news agency, the network was involved in “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security.”
“The network had been operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover and sought to infiltrate the national economy and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial stability,” the agency said, citing the UAE State Security Apparatus.
Hezbollah issued a statement on Friday denying that it has a presence inside the United Arab Emirates
Earlier this week, Hezbollah issued similar denials that it maintained a presence in Kuwait, after Kuwaiti authorities announced the discovery of two alleged cells linked to the group, arresting a combined 26 people.
In a statement, the Lebanese terror group said it “denies the fabricated accusations made against it by the security authorities in the United Arab Emirates.”
— جهاز أمن الدولة (@ssd_gov_ae) March 19, 2026
“Hezbollah has no presence inside the UAE or in any other country under any cover or commercial designation or otherwise.”
Iran has been targeting the Gulf countries, including the UAE, in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes since the war began on February 28.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke on Friday to his Emirati counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed in a phone call and condemned “the attacks targeting the UAE,” according to a Lebanese presidency statement.
He also condemned “the involvement of Hezbollah elements in sabotage plots that the UAE said were thwarted today.”
In recent years, the Lebanese government has had tensions with Gulf states, which have expressed concern about Hezbollah projecting influence outside of Lebanon.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.