The US Departments of State and Justice, in coordination with Europol, convened the 14th meeting of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group (LECG) to address Hezbollah’s ongoing terrorist and illicit activities, according to a statement released Thursday by the US State Department.
According to the press release, the two-day meeting brought together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and financial experts from around 30 countries spanning the Middle East, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America.
Participants assessed Hezbollah’s continued global threat, despite the group sustaining significant operational setbacks over the past year. Delegates concluded that Hezbollah “remains capable of launching deadly attacks worldwide with little or no warning, and continues to pursue efforts to preserve and expand its international reach.”
Discussions also focused on the group’s increasingly fragile financial condition. According to the statement, participants warned that Hezbollah “may attempt to ramp up fundraising and procurement efforts, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and other regions.”
Governments also shared updates on recent actions taken to disrupt Hezbollah’s financial networks, criminal operations, and terrorist infrastructure. The US Department of the Treasury and the National Counterterrorism Center also contributed to the discussions.
It is worth noting that the LECG, established in 2014 by the US and Europol, serves as an international platform to enhance coordination among global partners in combating Hezbollah’s transnational activities.
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