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U.S.: Hizballah Remains a Threat, Is Raising Funds in U.S.

[Voice of America] Margaret Besheer - U.S. counterterrorism officials say Hizballah terrorists remain a threat to the survival of Lebanon's government, Israel's security, and regional stability, telling Congress Thursday that Hizballah has an increasing global reach and is capable of harming U.S. and other Western interests around the world. Frank Urbancic, a counterterrorism official at the State Department, said: "Hizballah has supported terrorist activities in the Palestinian territories since at least 2000 by providing financial, training, and logistical support to Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian terrorist groups." Hizballah's growing reach, the officials say, is due in large part to the support it receives from its biggest backers - Iran and Syria - who provide money, arms, and training. Officials warn that the group operates in the U.S. to raise money to support its terrorist activities. John Kavanagh, a counterterrorism official with the FBI, said: "Within the United States, Hizballah associates and sympathizers have engaged in a wide range of criminal activities to include money laundering, credit card fraud, immigration fraud, food stamp fraud, bank fraud, and narcotics trafficking."
2006-09-29 01:00:00
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