The terrorist organization Hezbollah has been following businessmen from Israel and the United States in Colombia, it was reported yesterday (Sunday) in the Al-Timpo newspaper published in the South American country.
"By about two months, we were required to address a situation where we had to capture and deport two Hezbollah criminals who planned to commit a crime inside Colombia," said local defense minister Diego Mulano.
At the security level, authorities in the capital Bogota are forced to address the terrorist threat posed by Iran and its affiliates at home and abroad.
Colombia has been home to a large community of more than 2 million Lebanese for years.
And as if that were not enough, the neighboring state of Venezuela is considered the mother base of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards in Latin America.
Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano noted in this context that there is a danger on the part of Hezbollah, which operates in Venezuela and maintains contacts with drug traffickers.
He added that terrorist organizations from the border area with Venezuela could harm national security.
This is not the first time Colombia has accused Venezuela of sponsoring terrorist and guerrilla organizations working against it.
Hence, most of the border between the countries has been closed since 2015.
PM Naftali Bennett Meets with Colombian President Ivan Duka, Photo: Haim Tzach / GPO
Exactly one week ago, Defense Minister Molano accompanied Colombian President Ivan Duka on his visit to Israel, saying unequivocally: "We have a common enemy in Iran and Hezbollah."
However, yesterday Molano actually tried to restrict things and explained that it was said "in a hurry".
This is in light of criticism he has received from Tehran, which has had full diplomatic relations with Colombia since 1975.
Iran's ambassador to Bogota, Muhammad Ali Ziazzi, said "destroying the relationship will not benefit the citizens."
Whoever also tried to qualify things against Iran is President Duka who said that "Colombia does not use the term 'enemy' to define a country. However, this does not mean that we do not have disagreements with Iran on specific issues."