A wall in Caracas, Venezuela, on Oct. 17, 2024, in tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: AFP)
Ghazzeh, a small, predominantly Sunni village in Lebanon’s western Bekaa, is home to the highest number of emigrants settled in Venezuela.Subtle clues point to their connection: a “zapatería” (shoe store) on the main street instead of a typical shoe shop, Café Margarita named after the resort island off Caracas, and an entire neighborhood (named after the island) of upscale villas built by wealthy expatriates. Venezuela's Lebanese diaspora Lebanese diaspora on edge, from Caracas to Beirut For several years, Venezuela has been on the U.S. authorities' radar. A 2020 Atlantic Council report said it had become a paramilitary training center capable of “supporting violent operations in the Western Hemisphere.” The report also described it as a major criminal hub for drug trafficking, money laundering and smuggling involving...
Ghazzeh, a small, predominantly Sunni village in Lebanon’s western Bekaa, is home to the highest number of emigrants settled in Venezuela.Subtle clues point to their connection: a “zapatería” (shoe store) on the main street instead of a typical shoe shop, Café Margarita named after the resort island off Caracas, and an entire neighborhood (named after the island) of upscale villas built by wealthy expatriates. Venezuela's Lebanese diaspora Lebanese diaspora on edge, from Caracas to Beirut For several years, Venezuela has been on the U.S. authorities' radar. A 2020 Atlantic Council report said it had become a paramilitary training center capable of “supporting violent operations in the Western Hemisphere.” The report also described it as a major criminal hub for drug trafficking, money laundering and smuggling...
