The2009 Hezbollah plot in Egypt involved the arrest of 49 men by Egyptian authorities in the five months preceding April 2009. Egypt accused them of beingHezbollah agents planning attacks againstIsraeli and Egyptian targets in theSinai Peninsula.[1] The arrests led to tensions between the Egyptian government and Hezbollah, as well as between Egypt andIran.[2]
Tension had been high since Israel'sGaza War. Hezbollah headHassan Nasrallah had accused Egypt of being a partner to the killing of Palestinians there, saying if it did not open theRafah crossing it would be considered a "partner in the killing of Palestinians by the IDF."[3]
The plot prompted theEgyptian government to officially designate Hezbollah a "terrorist group".[4]
InPort Said, a cell was set up to monitor ship activity in theSuez Canal. The cell was to buy a boat as well as set up a fish shop in order to do this.[5]
Reports said the men had planned three major bomb attacks inTaba, popular with Israeli tourists, using explosive belts and car bombs.[6]
Egypt's reaction was hostile. PresidentHosni Mubarak issued a strong statement denouncing the Lebanese group and its supporters. "They [Hezbollah and Iran] aspire to impose their influence on our Arab world by introducing hostile elements into the region, in efforts to threaten Egypt's national security," Mubarak said. He added, "[W]e will uncover their plot; beware of Egypt's wrath."[7] In addition, the Egyptian newspaperAl-Ahram claimed that Iran,Syria, andQatar were working to overthrow the Egyptian government.[8]
Hezbollah said one of the men was indeed one of their operatives, but that he had been trying to smuggle weapons into Gaza forHamas. The group said the terror plot claims were "fabricated" to "sully Hezbollah’s image" and that the allegations were retaliation for Hezbollah's comments during Operation Cast Lead.[9]
ASudanese official claimed rebel groups had collaborated with Hezbollah in smuggling weapons to Egypt. He condemned “any sabotage to a country’s sovereignty under any circumstances”.[10]
On April 28, 2010, 26 men were convicted by aState Security court of planning the attacks and given sentences from six months to life imprisonment. Four men were convictedin absentia.[11]
In the midst of the2011 Egyptian protests, the cell's ringleader and 21 other Hezbollah suspects escaped from theWadi El Natrun prison north of Cairo. Some later appeared back inBeirut.[12]
