CELLE, GERMANY – A landmark trial began on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in the Higher Regional Court in Celle, northern Germany, against a Lebanese national accused of playing a key role in procuring components for Hezbollah's advanced drone programme. The case against the 35-year-old, identified only as Fadel Z. under German privacy laws, casts a harsh light on the intricate and often covert international networks that militant groups use to acquire dual-use technology for warfare, a challenge with direct implications for security in East Africa.

German Federal Prosecutors allege that Fadel Z. is a member of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia political party and militant group. He is charged with membership in a foreign terrorist organization and 47 counts of violating EU embargo regulations. According to the indictment issued on September 2, 2025, Fadel Z. joined the group before 2015 and, by August 2022, had become a key “foreign operator” in its drone procurement efforts. Prosecutors claim that from Barcelona, Spain, and later from Germany starting in the summer of 2023, he acquired nearly €1.4 million worth of products for drone construction from companies across Europe, China, and the United States. These components were then allegedly shipped to Lebanon via sea from Hamburg or Spanish ports, or by air freight.

The trial underscores a significant strategic shift by Hezbollah towards unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Drones are a cheaper, more flexible, and often more difficult-to-detect alternative to traditional missiles. Hezbollah's drone program has expanded significantly, relying on Iranian-made models like the Ababil and Shahed, as well as domestically assembled units using globally sourced parts. The German prosecution's statement noted that by June 2024, Hezbollah had amassed an arsenal of over 10,000 drones, which it has systematically used against both military and civilian targets in Israel, particularly since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

Global Networks, Local Vigilance

While the trial is unfolding thousands of kilometres away, it serves as a critical case study for Kenyan and East African security agencies. The methods allegedly used by Fadel Z. — operating through legitimate commercial channels in multiple countries to acquire dual-use technology — are a blueprint for how terrorist organizations and other non-state actors can exploit the global financial and logistics systems. Hezbollah has long maintained a presence in Africa, primarily for fundraising, recruitment, and criminal activities like money laundering and smuggling to finance its operations. Its networks have been documented in West and Central Africa, with a strategic interest in expanding its operational footprint across the continent.

For Kenya, which has faced direct threats from Iran-linked operatives, the German case is a stark reminder of latent security vulnerabilities. In 2012, two Iranian nationals, believed to be members of Iran's Quds Force, were arrested in Nairobi and later convicted for plotting attacks on Western targets after being found in possession of 15 kilograms of RDX explosives. More recently, in October 2025, six Iranian nationals were arrested off the coast of Mombasa with over a tonne of methamphetamine valued at KSh 8.2 billion, highlighting the use of Kenyan maritime routes by transnational criminal networks. These incidents demonstrate that Kenya and the broader region can be used as logistical hubs, transit points, or targets by groups linked to Hezbollah's primary state sponsor, Iran.

A Fractured International Stance

The legal basis for the trial in Celle is Germany's comprehensive ban on all Hezbollah activities, which it designated as a Shiite terrorist organization on April 30, 2020. This move went further than the European Union's position, which, since 2013, has only proscribed Hezbollah's “military wing” as a terrorist group, leaving its political arm unsanctioned. This distinction is rejected by Hezbollah itself and many security services, who argue the organization's political and military leadership are unified. The United States, United Kingdom, Arab League, and others have designated Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization.

The trial of Fadel Z. is therefore not just about one individual's alleged crimes but represents a broader effort to dismantle the logistical and financial underpinnings of militant groups. By targeting the supply chain for components like drone engines, authorities aim to disrupt the operational capabilities of these organizations at their source. The case is a clear signal that European nations are increasing their scrutiny of procurement networks that fuel conflicts far beyond their borders. For Kenya, a key partner in regional and global counter-terrorism efforts, the proceedings in Germany will be closely watched, offering valuable intelligence on the evolving tactics of global terror financing and procurement.