Aoun warns that proposed anti-Hezbollah U.S. sanctions bill to ‘harm Lebanon, Lebanese

President Michel Aoun warned Monday that a new anti-Hezbollah sanctions bill that the U.S. Congress is proposing would “greatly harm Lebanon and its people.”

“The draft law that is being prepared in Congress to slap new financial sanctions on Lebanese parties, institutions and individuals will greatly harm Lebanon and its people,” Aoun , a close ally of Hezbollah told a delegation from the American Task Force for Lebanon, an organization that “unites Americans of Lebanese heritage to promote a secure, stable, free and sovereign Lebanon.”

Media reports said a Lebanese delegation is conducting contacts abroad in a bid to tone down the U.S. bill.

According to reports, the proposed law might for the first time targets AMAL Movement, another key ally of Hezbollah . Other reports indicated that more Hezbollah allies may be the target of the bill including The Free Patriotic Movement (which was founded by Aoun and is currently headed by his son-in-law Gebran Bassil) and the Syrian National Social Party.