If the international community needed reminding that Hezbollah are seen by some as sinister Islamists with a wide-ranging criminal network and aims that include arms smuggling, civil attacks and spreading militant Shi'ism, this week's arrests in Egypt have made that point forcefully.

Yesterday, Thursday, Egypt's public prosecutor ruled that 49 suspected supporters be detained for, "15 days for questioning on suspicion of membership in a clandestine organization calling for rebellion."

The enmity between the party and Egypt, fueled by Hezbollah's support for Hamas and Egypt's perceived lack of support for Palestinians, deepened during the conflict in Gaza at the start of this year. Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a series of coruscating anti-Egypt...