US Senators Request Intel Briefing On Hezbollah's Alleged Activities In Venezuela

Senators Chuck Grassley and Ted Cruz in a letter to senior US security and intelligence officials requested a briefing over reports that the Hezbollah movement has been active in Venezue

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st February, 2019) Senators Chuck Grassley and Ted Cruz in a letter to senior US security and intelligence officials requested a briefing over reports that the Hezbollah movement has been active in Venezuela.

"We write to you today regarding a recent interview that Secretary Pompeo gave, in which he confirmed there are active Hezbollah cells in Venezuela," the senators said in a letter publicly released on Wednesday. "We request a briefing as soon as possible, but no later than March 12, 2019."

Pompeo's allegation, made during an interview with FOX news earlier in February, was immediately dismissed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who said while many Lebanese people live in the country Caracas has no relations with Hezbollah.

The senators said they are concerned that adversaries including terrorists may be able to threaten US security via the southern border and want to understand what steps are being taken to address the problem. The letter was addressed to Pompeo, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Last month, Maduro accused the Trump administration of trying to orchestrate a coup after US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela. Russia, China, Mexico, among other nations, have reaffirmed their support for Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president.