A Lebanese man has gone on trial in Celle, northern Germany, accused of being a member of Hezbollah - a Shia Muslim group whose military wing is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the EU.
The 35-year-old man, named only as Fadel Z, in line with German privacy laws, is charged with having played a key role in procuring products for Hezbollah's drone programme.
The German Federal Prosecutor's Office said Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago, first working in public relations.
In a statement, prosecutors said Fadel Z became a foreign operator for the group's drone programme in 2022, first from Barcelona in Spain. In the summer of 2023, he started working from Germany.
According to the statement by prosecutors, Hezbollah has been running an extensive drone programme for some time.
Following Hamas's October 2023 attacks on Israel, prosecutors said Hezbollah had systematically fired rockets and explosive-laden drones at both military and civilian targets in Israel. By June 2024, it had built up an arsenal of over 10,000 [drone] units.
To procure such drones the organisation employs foreign operatives who covertly purchase components in Europe and export them to Lebanon, prosecutors said.
Fadel Z is accused of purchasing materials and products for drone construction worth around €1.4m (£1.2m), until he was arrested in July 2024.
The products came from companies in Europe, China, and the US, including more than 2,000 petrol and electric motors, and over 600 propellers.
Prosecutors claim he often used front companies to place orders, arranging for the goods to be transported to Lebanon via container ships or air freight.
Notably, two of the engines purchased by Fadel Z were used in explosive drones targeting Israel, including a drone that struck a retirement home during Yom Kippur.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office considers this aiding and abetting attempted murder. Fadel Z's trial is expected to last until August 2025.
This case emerges amid an intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated after the October 2023 attacks, leading to significant casualties on both sides.
