A covert Hezbollah logistics network operating across Europe to supply drone components to the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon has been dismantled following a multinational investigation, according to a report published Friday by French daily Le Figaro.

The network, described by European intelligence officials as both sophisticated and far-reaching, is believed to have been active from mid-2024 until early April 2025. It was composed primarily of individuals of Lebanese origin, who are suspected of sourcing and transporting equipment for the assembly of military-grade drones. The final destination of these shipments was allegedly Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

The initial breakthrough came in Catalonia, Spain, where the Guardia Civil detected suspicious purchases of drone-related materials in the summer of 2024. The suspects, Lebanese nationals operating through Spanish-registered companies, had been acquiring large volumes of dual-use components that raised red flags for investigators.

According to Le Figaro, the items seized included dozens of gasoline engines, more than 200 electric motors, electronic guidance systems, propellers, and several tons of resin and composite materials used for constructing drone fuselages and wings. Investigators believe these components could have enabled the production of hundreds—potentially up to a thousand—unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of carrying several kilograms of explosives.

Authorities further suspect that similar materials have already been used in drones launched by Hezbollah against Israeli targets in recent months.

Coordinated Arrests Across Europe

The investigation quickly expanded beyond Spain, revealing operational ties to Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. On July 14, 2024, coordinated arrests were carried out following cooperation between Spain’s Guardia Civil, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).

Spanish police arrested three Lebanese nationals—two in Barcelona and one in the nearby town of Badalona. The suspects had been living discreetly in central Barcelona, near the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica. Two of the men were released under judicial supervision with confiscated passports and travel restrictions, while the third, identified as 38-year-old Firas A.H., was placed in pre-trial detention.

A judicial ruling described Firas A.H. as part of a Hezbollah-linked network operating between Spain and Germany. He is accused of acquiring materials “that could be converted into weapons of war capable of targeting civilian and military sites in Israel and Europe.” While investigators stressed that there was no active plan to conduct attacks on European soil, they emphasized that the ultimate destination for the equipment was Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Spanish authorities believe the group was on the verge of shipping a major consignment of drone components by sea, calling the plot a “serious threat” to regional security.

That same day, in the German town of Salzgitter in Lower Saxony, federal authorities arrested another Lebanese national, Fadel Z. According to the German federal prosecutor, Z. had been affiliated with Hezbollah since at least 2016. Since early 2024, he had allegedly procured drone engines intended for export to Lebanon for use in attacks against Israel.

Further Raids and Arrests in 2025

The investigation did not stop there. On April 1, 2025, Spanish authorities raided the same Barcelona apartment searched in July, arresting three more suspects. Two were released under judicial supervision, while a third was jailed on charges including membership in a criminal organization, financing criminal activity, and document forgery.

In France, the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) made its own move. On April 4, French anti-terrorism prosecutors announced the arrest of a suspect charged with participating in a terrorist group and plotting acts of terrorism against individuals. The man, who remains unnamed, was placed in custody pending further judicial proceedings.

Meanwhile, British counter-terrorism police arrested two men in northern London on April 3. The first, a 39-year-old, was detained on suspicion of being a member of a banned organization—Hezbollah was proscribed in the UK in 2019—as well as for preparing terrorist acts and financing terrorism. A second man, 35, was arrested for alleged membership in a proscribed group. Both were released on bail and are expected to appear in court by mid-July.

UK authorities emphasized that the arrests were tied to Hezbollah’s overseas activities and stressed there was no immediate threat to the British public. In a public statement, the head of the UK’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) declared: “Our investigation remains ongoing, but I hope that these arrests show we will take robust action against anyone here whom we suspect as being involved in terrorist activity, regardless of whether their activity is focused here in the UK or elsewhere.”

A Pan-European Hezbollah Supply Chain

According to the Le Figaro report, the operation revealed the depth and scale of Hezbollah’s logistical infrastructure in Europe. Authorities concluded that drone components had been sourced not only from Spain but also from multiple other European countries, highlighting the complexity and reach of the procurement network.

The exposed network bears similarities to previous Iranian-led international smuggling efforts in support of Hezbollah, underlining the group’s reliance on transnational supply chains to sustain its military capabilities.

Though European intelligence services stressed that the group had no immediate plans to carry out attacks on European soil, the quantity and nature of the materials seized underscore Hezbollah’s continued military buildup aimed at Israel—and Europe’s role as a critical logistical hub in that campaign.

The dismantling of this network marks a major counter-terrorism success for European law enforcement agencies, who worked closely to uncover and disrupt what appears to have been one of Hezbollah’s most extensive procurement operations outside the Middle East in recent years.