Hezbollah MP Nawwaf Moussawi told OTV on Monday that Hezbollah might file a claim at the Lebanese judiciary “against anyone whom investigation shows to have taken funds from the US” for political use.
His comment comes after he told New TV last Wednesday that $500 million has been spent by the US and its Arab allies to bribe people into criticizing Hezbollah.
Moussawi said that the money was spent through the United States Agency for International Development in order to distort Hezbollah’s image.
Baseless allegations says US
The spokesman of US Embassy in Lebanon issued a statement calling Moussawi’s recent allegations baseless.
The US is committed to supporting Lebanon, its government and its people through programs and various types of support, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson added that “we provided this support transparently to the people and media, unlike others. The US is committed to continuing this support, and these baseless accusations will not change that.”
According to observers Hezbollah’s allegation are in response to the sanctions that the US had slapped against two companies linked to the Iranian backed militant group.
In September 2006 , the US Treasury blacklisted Bayt al-Mal and the Yousser Company, along with Bayt al-Mal head Husayn al-Shami, for channeling funds to Hezbollah.
“Bayt al-Mal and the Yousser Company function as Hezbollah’s unofficial treasury, holding and investing its assets and serving as intermediaries between the terrorist group and mainstream banks,” said Stuart Levey, the US Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence on Sept 8, 2006 .
“Institutions considering dealing with these two entities are now on notice as to their true character,” he said.
The Treasury froze any US assets held by the two companies, and banned Americans from conducting any transactions with them.
Last week it took similar action against the Islamic Resistance Support Organization, which it said was a leading fundraising arm for Hezbollah.
The US government has stepped up a financial and diplomatic offensive against Hezbollah since the militant group abducted two Israeli soldiers in July, sparking over four weeks of fierce fighting with the Jewish state.
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