The Minister of Security of Argentina, Patricia Bullrich, delivered this Thursday to the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Carolina Tohá, a confidential report on the activities in Chile of the Lebanese Shiite Muslim organization that has a political arm and another paramilitary arm, Hezbollah. . The document on the Iranian-sponsored group recounts events recorded several years ago and is full of details, names, and penetration and financing operations.
Bullrich traveled to Santiago to participate with Tohá in the Enade business dialogue on the continent’s security problems. It was in that instance where he announced the delivery of the report that hours later was detailed by the newspaper Clarion of Buenos Aires, which mentions the activities of people linked to Hezbollah on the Peru-Chile and Bolivia triple border.
According to the document, one of the focuses of attention falls on the children of the former Hezbollah financier, Hatem Ahmad Barakat. It is reported that Ali Hatem Barakat, son of Hatem Ahmad Barakat, would legally reside in Chile under the RUT number 22735459-3, despite the fact that he was previously registered in Fox do Iguaçu (Brazil). In addition, it is stated that Ali’s sister, Maysaa Barakat, would also live in the city of Iquique.
According to the report, during his time in Chile, Ali Barakat owned two businesses: Importadora Dakotas Limitada and Importadora y Exportadora Montreal Limitada, until June 2015, when he liquidated both companies. It is mentioned that during his tenure in these companies, their co-owner was Ahmad Droubi, through whom a network of contacts related to Hezbollah, from the so-called Rachid clan, who supposedly resided in Santiago and Arica, was identified.
The report suggests that these individuals could have established import and export companies in Iquique as “fronts” for illicit activities, including the alleged laundering of money intended to finance the extremist group.
Identification of Ali Chahine and planning of the attack in Bolivia
Another notable aspect of the report is the identification of Ali Chahine, who is presumed to be part of the armed wing of Hezbollah. Chahine was detected in Chilean territory in 2014, after which he moved to Bolivia, where it is suspected that he kept a warehouse with explosives intended to be used against Israeli targets. Although his current whereabouts could not be determined, a possible attack in La Paz would have been avoided thanks to the intervention of the authorities.
Since 2019, Hezbollah has been included as a terrorist organization in the Public Registry of Persons and Entities linked to acts of Terrorism and its Financing (RePet) created that same year.
The delivery of the report follows the protest note sent to Argentina by President Gabriel Boric following Bullrich’s statements about the presence of groups accused of having terrorist activity in countries in the region.
The report presented by Minister Bullrich also points out the presence and activities of other individuals related to Hezbollah in Latin America, including cases in countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Colombia. In addition, it emphasizes the suspicion of Hezbollah networks in Chile, with specific mentions of flights between Caracas and Santiago operated by Maham Air, a company sanctioned by the United States and pointed out for having links with terrorist organizations.
The document also reveals an agreement between the Defense Ministers of Iran and Bolivia for the sale of advanced technology for border control and combating drug trafficking on the border with Chile and Argentina, generating concern in these countries. Likewise, it details the activity of the Hezbollah group in other Latin American countries, identifying individuals such as Eduardo Rubén Assad, who would be linked to Hezbollah’s support and recruitment network in the region, with connections in Mexico, Argentina and other countries.
Government: “We have to be careful”
The minister of the General Secretariat of Government (Segegob), Camila Vallejo (PC), was consulted about Bullrich’s report on the news 24 hours. ““We have to be careful,” he said. First, he explained, because the document is confidential and therefore he could not comment in detail on what has been “a report in the press.”
However, the minister spokesperson reiterated: “There is no precedent to maintain or affirm that our country would have any type of threat due to the action of the Hezbollah group.”
For the peace of mind of the audience, the head of Segegob added, “this is being monitored by intelligence agencies with information that international police provide.”
“There is no additional new element that confirms this fear that has been established,” Camila Vallejo concluded.
