Russia's support for global terror: Israeli operations uncover weapons trail in Lebanon

Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko reports.

As Israeli forces advance into southern Lebanon, they are uncovering large stockpiles of Russian-made weapons within Hezbollah’s arms depots. Much of this equipment has been accumulated over time, underscoring Russia’s long-standing support for terrorist organizations and authoritarian regimes, a strategy dating back to the Soviet era. This is not just about challenging the West, but the broader international order.

According to Kovalenko, intelligence agencies, including Mossad, have long been aware that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah are supplied not only by Iran but also by Russia. Recently, the Israeli Air Force targeted the Khmeimim base in Syria, where an Iranian cargo plane had arrived, likely to prevent the flow of arms to Hezbollah via Syria, with the Russian base acting as a transit hub.

The global intelligence community has known for years about Russia’s support for terrorist groups, yet largely ignored it. Russia's involvement in the rise of ISIS and its backing of the Taliban are further examples of its role in global instability. Russian nationals were heavily represented in ISIS ranks, with future fighters receiving logistical support from Russian-controlled regions, such as Dagestan.

Moreover, Russia has played a significant part in Afghanistan’s destabilization, particularly through its military and financial aid to the Taliban since 2015. This support culminated in the disastrous events of 2021, when the Taliban took control of the country. Kovalenko also recalls Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, who supplied weapons to numerous terrorist groups worldwide, further illustrating Russia’s deep-rooted involvement in global terrorism.

Despite being fully aware of these activities, Israel and other countries continued to engage with Russia, even in defense-related cooperation. This apparent complacency and the broader failure of international intelligence agencies have allowed Russia’s influence to grow unchecked, contributing to the bloodshed seen today. The expert believes much of this violence could have been avoided had there been a firm stance against Russia's support for terrorism from the outset.