US Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on nine individuals linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of sabotaging the peace process in Lebanon and obstructing efforts to disarm the group.
According to US officials, the sanctioned individuals are associated with Lebanon’s parliament, security and military institutions.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on Thursday that nine individuals had been added to the sanctions list over allegations of supporting Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon and creating obstacles in the peace process.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation and must be fully disarmed. He said the Treasury Department would continue taking action against officials who, while serving in Lebanese government institutions, are assisting Hezbollah.
US officials said the sanctioned individuals include senior political and parliamentary representatives of Hezbollah, who are accused of advancing the group’s interests and pressuring the Lebanese government.
Those placed on the sanctions list include Mohammad Abdel-Motaleb Fneish, Hassan Fadlallah, Ibrahim Moussawi and Hussein El-Hajj Hassan, who are considered associated with Hezbollah’s political and parliamentary wing.
According to the statement, Hassan Fadlallah has represented Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament since 2005, while Ibrahim Moussawi heads Hezbollah’s media committee. Hussein El-Hajj Hassan is accused of playing a key role in opposing efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
The US Treasury also imposed sanctions on Iran’s nominated ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani. The statement claimed that Lebanon had rejected his nomination and ordered him to leave Beirut.
In addition, Amal Movement security officials Ahmad Assad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safi were also sanctioned. US officials said both individuals worked with Hezbollah to pressure opposing political forces in Lebanon and were involved in actions against Israel.
The statement also said that some officials of the Lebanese army and the General Directorate of General Security had provided information to Hezbollah. Brigadier General Khodr Nasreddine and Colonel Samir Hamadi were also included in the sanctions list in this regard.
According to the US Treasury Department, all assets of these individuals in the United States have been frozen following the sanctions, while US citizens and institutions have been barred from carrying out financial or commercial transactions with them.
The statement warned that US and foreign individuals or financial institutions violating the sanctions could also face strict legal action and possible secondary sanctions.
