Iran's growing influence in Latin America and its ties with Hizbullah and Hamas are a "potential risk" to the region, the newly-appointed head of the U.S. Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser has warned.
Fraser, who on Thursday took charge of U.S. military operations in 31 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed "real concern" about the Islamic Republic's links with what he called "extremist organizations" in the region.
"The real concern is not a nation-to-nation interaction, it is the connection that Iran has with extremist organizations like Hamas and Hizbullah and the potential risk that that could bring to this region," Fraser told journalists in Miami ahead of taking up the post.
Commenting on Iran's ties to alleged extremist groups in the region, Fraser said: "it is a concern, and it is an issue we will continue to monitor for any increasing activity."
Fraser, who was Deputy Commander at U.S. Pacific Command, said the illicit trade in arms drugs and people was worrying, and indicated it would be the focus of his work.
"The major concern is the illicit trafficking and the impact that is having in the security and the stability especially through the northern part of South America through Central America and the Caribbean and through Mexico and the United States."
Fraser is the first U.S. Air Force officer to take the helm of the Southern Command.
He replaces Admiral James Stavridis, who has been tapped to become the NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
Stavridis has also expressed concern about increasing Iranian and Hizbullah activities throughout Latin America, accusing the Shiite group of involvement in drug trafficking in Colombia.(AFP-Naharnet)
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