Manama: Kuwait’s cabinet has voiced “deep indignation and condemnation over the heinous acts and grave charges” revealed by the indictment of 26 people, 25 Kuwaitis and one Iranian, for illegal possession of arms and contacts with Iran and Hezbollah.

“The charges involve dimensions and risks that pose a threat to the nation’s security, sovereignty and stability, as well as to its unity and territorial integrity, particularly in light of the huge amounts of explosives, arms and ammunition seized by the security bodies last month, and the way they were hidden,” Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the state minister for cabinet affairs, said following the extraordinary session.

The cabinet highly appreciated efforts of the security agencies that led to thwarting the criminal plan and aborting its insidious objectives and reiterated its confidence in their keenness to maintain the nation’s sovereignty, stability, unity and territorial integrity, Shaikh Mohammad said, Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported.

The cabinet also stressed that it would never tolerate targeting or harming Kuwaiti citizens and expats and that all the concerned agencies would take the necessary measures to preserve security and safety in the country.

The session, chaired by Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah, said Kuwait is a state of institutions where the judiciary has full authority and independence and renewed its confidence in the people’s awareness of the dangers of the tensions and escalations in the region as well as in their ability to manifest a spirit of responsibility and national unity to maintain Kuwait’s security and stability, Kuna said.

On Tuesday, Kuwait’s public prosecution said 26 defendants would stand trial for the possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives and espionage for Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.

The prosecution said that 23 people would be remanded in custody and that the other three, still at large, would be tried in absentia.

It said that 24 defendants faced charges of engaging in acts likely to undermine the unity and safety of Kuwait and of intelligence with Iran and Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The espionage activities included perpetrating antagonistic acts against Kuwait by smuggling explosives, machine gun, firearms, ammunition and spying devices.

The prosecution added that 22 defendants received paramilitary training on using explosives, weapons and ammunition for illegal purposes. They were also charged with the illegal possession of explosives, machine guns and firearms.

One defendant was charged with hiding a machine gun, firearms and ammunitions and their illegal possession, while 11 were charged with illegally possessing communication devices.

The prosecution said that several defendants would be tried for joining Hezbollah, a group that aims to spread principles that undermine the existing regime and take over the social and economic systems through the use of force. They were also charged with assisting in the training of other defendants on the use of explosives and weapons.

Kuwait last month said it broke up a terror cell and seized large amounts of weapons, ammunition and explosives. Officials linked the cell to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.