Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Venezuela feared as Hezbollah base

|
|
 
  
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) shakes hands with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (L) during a welcoming ceremony for Chavez in Tehran, Iran on July 1, 2007. Chavez arrived in Tehran late Saturday for a two-day visit which officials said was aimed at boosting political and economic cooperation between the two countries. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah) 
Published: Aug. 27, 2008 at 1:54 PM

BOGOTA, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Western anti-terrorism officials say they are concerned Hezbollah may use Venezuela as a base of operations.

The Shiite Muslim organization that Washington has called a terrorist group may try to take advantage of Venezuela's ties with Iran, Hezbollah's longtime sponsor, to move "people and things" into the Americas, a government terrorism expert. said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has several times traveled to and established warm diplomatic relations with Iran.

Others recall Hezbollah was linked to the deadly attacks on Jewish targets in Argentina in the early 1990s, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. The Bush administration, Israel and others worry Venezuela is becoming a base for anti-U.S. militant groups and spy agencies, including Hezbollah.

Topics: Hugo Chavez
Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 25
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth attend the "BAFTA" ceremony in London
View Caption
fark
McDonald's pushing farmers for a kinder McRib. Nope, you read that right
Nancy Grace screeches the appropriate question, "Who pushed Whitney Houston under water?"
Photoshop theme: Valentine's Day gifts, it's the thought that counts
Valentines your Mom got
Expect the Hoverboard to be in stores around October 21, 2015
If you say "I do not favor women wearing provocative clothes and always feel they need to be dignified...