Among those sanctioned are deputies Hassan Fadlallah, Ibrahim al Moussawi and Hussein al Hajj Hassan, all linked to Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc. Also included was Mohammed Fneish, a member of the group’s executive council and former Lebanese government minister.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, during a press conference The list also includes Mohammad Reza Sheibani, an Iranian diplomat designated as ambassador to Beirut and expelled from the country in March after being declared persona non grata by the Lebanese authorities.Washington also sanctioned Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi, members of the Amal movement, Hezbollah’s main political ally in Lebanon.
One of the most sensitive points of the announcement was the inclusion of two active officers from the Lebanese security forces: General Khattar Nasser el Din and Colonel Samir Hamadi. According to the US government, both had provided operational support and intelligence to Hezbollah during the ongoing regional conflict.
It is the first time the United States has formally sanctioned active officials of the Lebanese state security agencies for alleged links to the armed organization. The measures involve the freezing of assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. citizens and companies from conducting transactions with those sanctioned. The restrictions may also affect international operations carried out in dollars or foreign companies with a presence in U.S. territory. Exterior view of the headquarters of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington In parallel, the State Department announced a reward of up to $10 million for those who provide information that allows the dismantling of Hezbollah’s financial networks. “Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be completely disarmed,” Bessent stated in the official statement released by the Treasury. The Shiite organization responded quickly to the announcement and assured that the sanctions are part of “an attempt to intimidate the free Lebanese people.” In a statement, Hezbollah maintained that the US measures seek to reinforce “the Zionist aggression against our country” and assured that the sanctions “will have no practical impact” on its political or military decisions. The sanctions were announced as international pressure grows on the Lebanese government to accelerate the disarmament of Hezbollah, one of the main points of discussion in the indirect negotiations between Beirut and Israel. Officials from both countries are holding low-profile talks in Washington to try to consolidate the truce in effect since April. According to diplomatic sources, Israeli and Lebanese military representatives could hold direct talks at the end of May at the Pentagon. The situation on the border continues to be fragile despite the ceasefire. Israeli air strikes on Lebanese territory left at least 19 dead this week, including women and children, according to local health authorities. The United States and Israel maintain that Hezbollah maintains a military structure capable of destabilizing the region and continue to demand the total disarmament of the organization. The group, however, rejects any negotiation on its weapons and supports the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington promoted by Pakistan.
