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There is little question among experts that Hezbollah operatives out of Syria or Lebanon are passengers on these mysterious Iran Air-Conviasa flights that regularly touch down in Caracas.

Some observers believe the Chavistas may be welcoming Hezbollah operatives to assist the narco-terrorist group, FARC, which has found refuge in Venezuela and been fighting U.S. friend Colombia for decades.

Moreover, the Venezuelan regime would certainly welcome Hezbollah’s help in dealing with the United States — and Hezbollah, no friend of ours, would appreciate the opportunity to operate close to American territory.

In fact, Hezbollah is believed to have a growing relationship with Mexican drug cartels, including benefiting from their smuggling routes into the United States.

Of course, in the short term, worries involve what Hezbollah (and Iran) might do in the region, especially against the United States, should there be military action against the Iranian nuclear program by Israel — or America.

So, while the missile base report isn’t confirmed, it would be no surprise. The involvement of Iran in this hemisphere is a perfect storm that is brewing and, if unchecked, could reach the boiling point in another Cuban missile crisis.

But one thing is for sure: This is no time for complacency.

Peter Brookes is a Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.