BEIRUT — Kuwait has placed 18 people accused of financing Lebanon-based Hezbollah under a 21-day pre-trial detention, the Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas reported Thursday. The nationality of those arrested was not confirmed by the daily.
Here's what we know:
• Those arrested could be questioned today by a judge in charge of ruling on the extension of their detention, Al-Qabas reported.
• This news comes after an investigation by the Kuwaiti State Security Bureau led to the arrest of eight Kuwaiti citizens in early November accused of “transferring enormous sums” to finance Iran-backed Hezbollah.
• Relations between Lebanon and Kuwait have been strained since a diplomatic row erupted with Saudi Arabia at the end of October after the Lebanese information minister criticized the kingdom's involvement in the war in Yemen. Kuwait, alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, has cut diplomatic ties with Lebanon following the information minister's remarks.