Brazil Police Thwart Terrorist Attack From 2 Men Linked To Hezbollah

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was reportedly planning a terrorist attack on a Jewish community in Brazil, but this was thwarted by Brazilian Federal Police with the help of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.

Brazilian police held the operation on Wednesday and stated that they arrested two men with links to a Hezbollah terrorist cell that was planning to attack a Jewish community in the country.

Authorities described the operation as the biggest one to "interrupt preparations for acts of terrorism and obtain evidence about the possible recruitment of Brazilians to commit of extremist acts."

According to The Guardian, one man was arrested in Guarulhos, inside Brazil's biggest international airport. The man was flying from Lebanon where Hezbollah is based. Local media reports stated that the federal police believe he came with information to pass on to his partner about carrying out the attacks.

While no specific targets for the attacks were revealed to the public, Brazilian investigators told the media that they believed "the group was planning to launch attacks on buildings belonging to Brazil's Jewish community, including synagogues."

Brazil currently has the second-biggest Jewish community in Latin America. It also has the first Jewish synagogue ever built in the Americas, which was built in the 17th century. This was also the reason why many believed House Republican George Santos's lie that he was Jewish.

Police Looking Into Possibility That Terrorist Groups May Be Recruiting in Brazil

While two of the suspects have been arrested in Brazil, local media reported that there are still two more additional targets for arrest in Lebanon. However, authorities did not reveal any further details.

A Brazilian official with information about the plot spoke with the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity and confirmed that the two arrested suspects "were recruited and financed by Hezbollah."

Meanwhile, police confirmed that authorities also executed 11 search warrants in the states of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District. They are currently looking into the possibility of the group recruiting Brazilians to carry out extremist acts in the country. This means that the Brazilian police are now targeting both recruits and recruiters.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office Thanks Brazil Over Arrest of 2 Hezbollah Terrorists

Soon after the terrorist plot was thwarted, the office of Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu took to social media and thanked Brazilian authorities for their help, according to France 24.

The prime minister's office stated on X that authorities "foiled a terrorist attack in Brazil, planned by the Hezbollah terrorist organization, directed and financed by Iran ... This was an extensive network that operated in additional countries."

Meanwhile, Mossad itself released a statement, saying, "Given the backdrop of the war in Gaza... Hezbollah and the Iranian regime are continuing to operate around the world in order to attack Israeli, Jewish and Western targets."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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