Ya Libnan

U.S. Sanctions Hezbollah chief for aiding Syrian regime

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U.S. Treasury officials imposed sanctions on the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, and two other members of the organization for their alleged role in aiding the Syrian government in its crackdown on opposition forces.

The Treasury on Thursday formally charged that Hezbollah has been supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces by providing training and logistical support.

The Treasury also said Hezbollah has helped Damascus monitor and control the movements of opposition fighters from the Free Syrian Army.

“By aiding Assad’s violent campaign against the Syrian people and working to support a regime that will inevitably fall, Hezbollah’s ongoing activity undermines regional stability and poses a direct threat to Lebanon’s security,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen.

“Hezbollah’s actions, overseen by Hassan Nasrallah and executed by Mustafa Badr Al-Din and Talal Hamiyah, clearly reveal its true nature as a terrorist and criminal organization,” Mr. Cohen said.

The sanctions bar Americans from doing business with these three Hezbollah members and freezes any assets they might have in the U.S.

Hezbollah has long been on the U.S. terrorism list, so Thursday’s actions weren’t expected to have much material impact on the organization.

Still, the Obama administration has been intensifying its scrutiny of the Lebanese financial sector in recent months, concerned that Hezbollah may be using Beirut’s banks to launder proceeds from narcotics smuggling. Hezbollah has denied any role in narcotics trafficking.

U.S. officials also have raised their concerns with Lebanese officials in recent months that their banking system may be being used by Iran and Syria to evade sanctions.

This week, Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh in Beirut, according to U.S. officials.

“They discussed how Lebanon and Lebanese private financial institutions can work to prevent abuse of the Lebanese financial sector by illicit actors, including narcotics traffickers with links to Hezbollah,” said a Treasury official.

Lebanese officials have said they are cooperating closely with the U.S. in combating money laundering.

WSJ

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5 responses to “U.S. Sanctions Hezbollah chief for aiding Syrian regime”

  1. plomca Avatar
    plomca

    Over and over, their has been enough facts to be known, that Hezbollah is a terrorist and criminal organization. And anyone to be associate with them, are complicit in any crimes this organizations carries out in Lebanon and around the world.

    Lebanon has to decide, that further involvement of this terrorist/criminal organization in government affairs, then they will have to be responsible for this groups actions. But also the re-precautions of sanctions and even law suits in the future, by those victims/nations affected by this terrorist/criminal organization.
     
    U.S. sanctions should now also begin with those political parties in Lebanon that align themselves with Hezbollah. You support a terrorist/criminal organization, then you suffer consequences with your relationship with them.

    And even possibly, sanctions against the Lebanese government in the near future!

    1. nayyashAl3arab Avatar
      nayyashAl3arab

      first i am very glad that hizbollah is terrorising you; you are just getting the change for your money; second what Lebanon decides or has to decide IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS AND CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOR WOULD PLEASE YOU.
      LAST BUT NOT LEAST ISRAEL CAN GIVE LESSONS IN TERRORISM: like i told you before aramaic is the mother of languages, israel is the mother of terrorism

    2. nayyashAl3arab Avatar
      nayyashAl3arab

      first i am very glad that hizbollah is terrorising you; you are just getting the change for your money; second what Lebanon decides or has to decide IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS AND CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOR WOULD PLEASE YOU.
      LAST BUT NOT LEAST ISRAEL CAN GIVE LESSONS IN TERRORISM: like i told you before aramaic is the mother of languages, israel is the mother of terrorism

  2. plomca Avatar
    plomca

    Over and over, their has been enough facts to be known, that Hezbollah is a terrorist and criminal organization. And anyone to be associate with them, are complicit in any crimes this organizations carries out in Lebanon and around the world.

    Lebanon has to decide, that further involvement of this terrorist/criminal organization in government affairs, then they will have to be responsible for this groups actions. But also the re-precautions of sanctions and even law suits in the future, by those victims/nations affected by this terrorist/criminal organization.
     
    U.S. sanctions should now also begin with those political parties in Lebanon that align themselves with Hezbollah. You support a terrorist/criminal organization, then you suffer consequences with your relationship with them.

    And even possibly, sanctions against the Lebanese government in the near future!

    1. nayyashAl3arab Avatar
      nayyashAl3arab

      first i am very glad that hizbollah is terrorising you; you are just getting the change for your money; second what Lebanon decides or has to decide IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS AND CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOR WOULD PLEASE YOU.
      LAST BUT NOT LEAST ISRAEL CAN GIVE LESSONS IN TERRORISM: like i told you before aramaic is the mother of languages, israel is the mother of terrorism

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