UAE says it dismantled ‘terrorist network’ funded by Iran and Hezbollah

 United Arab Emirates authorities said ​on Friday (March 20, 2026) they had dismantled ‌a “terrorist network” funded and operated by ​Lebanon’s Hezbollah and ⁠Iran, and arrested its members.

According to the state news agency, the network was ‌involved in “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security.”

Iran-Israel war updates on March 19, 2026

There ‌was no immediate comment ‌from ⁠Hezbollah or Iran.

Since the ⁠outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in late February, Tehran has launched ​large-scale missile and ‌drone attacks across the Gulf, with the UAE among the most heavily targeted countries.

Emirati officials say ‌hundreds of strikes have ​been directed at the country, hitting sites including oil ⁠facilities, ports and areas near major urban centers.

The UAE has long ‌opposed political Islamist groups. Iran-backed Hezbollah entered the conflict on March 2, firing at Israel from Lebanon, prompting Israel to launch extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah ‌targets across Lebanon.

“The network had been ​operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover ⁠and sought to infiltrate the national economy ⁠and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial ‌stability,” the UAE state news agency said.