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Hezbollah in ‘disarray’ after leader’s death. What does it mean for Canada?
Global News
Hezbollah has long used Canada as 'a facilitation and fundraising hub.'
Hezbollah could resort to international terrorism following the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, a top expert warned.
The Lebanese militant group, which has long had a presence in Canada, has lost many of its commanders in recent Israeli air strikes.
It’s headquarters was destroyed last week and “they are in disarray,” said Matthew Levitt, author of Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of God.
“One concern is that if the group is less capable of carrying out cross-border attacks, it could resort to increased acts of international terrorism,” Levitt said in an interview.
“Another concern is that supporters around the world, angry at the loss of Nasrallah, could carry out attacks on their own.”
The collapse of the powerful Iranian-backed armed group will also be felt in Canada, where Hezbollah has been active since the 1990s.
Members of Hezbollah’s global network have lost their lines of communications and are likely fearful given Israel’s actions, said former intelligence officer Andrew Kirsch.
The former Canadian Security Intelligence Service officer said Hezbollah supporters might “take matters into their own hands.”