Kuwait says arrested 16 people affiliated with Hezbollah over 'sabotage plot'

Kuwait's interior ministry said on Monday it arrested 16 people - 14 Kuwaitis and two Lebanese nationals - affiliated with Hezbollah who had planned a "sabotage plot" in the Gulf nation.

The group "aimed to destabilise the country's security and recruit individuals to join the terrorist organisation", the ministry said in a statement, adding that a number of weapons, camera drones and morse code communication devices were seized.

A video shared by the interior ministry on X showed the confiscated equipment.

Hezbollah on Tuesday denied it had any members in Kuwait.

"Hezbollah categorically denies the allegations and accusations issued by the Kuwaiti interior ministry," the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group said in a statement, calling the allegations "baseless," adding: "There are no Hezbollah cells, members or networks in Kuwait."

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said on Tuesday that his ministry condemned "the terrorist plot that targeted Kuwait's sovereignty and security" along with any Hezbollah involvement.

"The ministry reaffirmed Lebanon's full solidarity with Kuwait and its readiness to cooperate in the investigation to ensure those responsible are held accountable," Raggi added on X.

Last month, Lebanon's health ministry said it would seek clarification after Kuwait inscribed several private hospitals in the Mediterranean country on its "terror" list.

The facilities are all allegedly owned or run by Hezbollah or affiliated organisations, and are located in south and east Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs - all areas where the Iran-backed militant group holds sway, which Kuwait's circular did not mention.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on 2 March when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

Beirut banned the group's military and security activities this month after the attack in an unprecedented step.

Kuwait has faced security problems related to armed groups in the region, including Hezbollah.

The country has previously busted several alleged Hezbollah cells, arresting dozens of suspects. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) designates the Shia militant group as a terrorist organisation.

The GCC states have come under repeated attack by Iran since the Middle East war began on 28 February, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.