‘Kuwait deports Lebanese, Iraqis for Hizbollah links’

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwaiti authorities have deported 11 Lebanese and three Iraqis for alleged links with Hizbollah, the Shiite movement classified by Gulf monarchies as a "terrorist" group, a local newspaper said Monday.

The 14 were recently expelled at the request of Kuwaiti security services after they were found to belong to Hizbollah, daily Al Qabas reported, without providing further details.

The newspaper quoted a security official saying that a list had been prepared of Lebanese and Iraqi citizens, some in top corporate positions, "who are unwelcome and should be deported" from Kuwait.

The deportations came amid an increasing crackdown by Sunni Arab Gulf states on foreign citizens with alleged links to Iran-backed Hizbollah.

The Arab League declared Hizbollah a "terrorist" group on March 11, after Gulf monarchies did the same earlier this month over the movement's support for President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria's war.

Last week, Bahrain deported an unspecified number of Lebanese residents for alleged links to Hizbollah and Saudi Arabia warned that it will punish citizens and residents who "support or demonstrate belonging" to the group.

Riyadh last month halted a $3 billion programme for military aid to Beirut in protest against Hizbollah, which is a key political force in Lebanon and has lawmakers in its parliament.