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Hezbollah-organized fuel arrives in crisis-hit Lebanon

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A convoy of tanker trucks carrying Iranian diesel has crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon

By FADI TAWIL and BILAL HUSSEIN

A convoy of tanker trucks carrying Iranian diesel crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon, arrive at the eastern town of el-Ain, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. The delivery, organized by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, violates U.S. sanctions imposed on Tehran after former President Donald Trump pulled America out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers three years ago. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

AL-AIN, Lebanon — A convoy of tanker trucks carrying Iranian diesel crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon early Thursday, a delivery organized by the militant Hezbollah group to ease crippling fuel shortages in the crisis-hit country.

The delivery violates U.S. sanctions imposed on Tehran after former President Donald Trump pulled America out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers three years ago.

It was portrayed as a victory by Hezbollah, which stepped in to supply the fuel from its patron, Iran, while the cash-strapped government grappled with the fuel shortages for months.

The first Iranian oil tanker arrived in the Syrian port of Baniyas on Sunday and the diesel was unloaded to Syrian storage places and later brought overland to Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech earlier this week that the tanker did not offload its cargo directly in Lebanon to avoid embarrassing Lebanese authorities and risking sanctions on Lebanon.

There was no immediate comment from Lebanese or U.S. officials on the Iranian fuel delivery Thursday.

A car rides near banners depicting Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as the first truck carrying Iranian fuel is expected to reach Lebanon today, near the Lebanese-Syrian border, in al-Ain village, Lebanon September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Aziz TaherREUTERS

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV called it “the tanker truck convoys to break the American siege” adding that 20 tanker trucks each carrying 50,000 liters (13,210 gallons) crossed the border Thursday and were on their way to the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek where Hezbollah will start distributing the fuel.

Lebanon is in the grips of a devastating economic crisis. Severe shortages in fuel have paralyzed the country, resulting in crippling power cuts that have disrupted the work of hospitals and bakeries. Just to get gasoline, people must wait hours in line, commonly called, “queues of humiliation.”

The tanker trucks crossed from Syria’s central province of Homs into Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and were welcomed by residents who gathered on the sides of the main road. Hezbollah’s yellow flags and banners praising the Iran-backed group and Syria’s President Bashar Assad decorated the streets.

The arrival of the Iranian diesel comes nearly a week after a new government was formed ending a 13-month deadlock. Lebanon’s new Prime Minister Najib Mikati has not commented on the deal to import fuel from Iran.

Nasrallah said earlier this week that the diesel will be donated for a period of one month to institutions including public hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, water stations and the Lebanese Red Cross. Nasrallah added that others who will get fuel at low prices are private hospitals, medicine and serum factories, bakeries and cooperatives that sell food products.

Nasrallah said three other tankers carrying diesel and one carrying gasoline will arrive in the coming weeks.

Associated Press

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4 responses to “Hezbollah-organized fuel arrives in crisis-hit Lebanon”

  1. vs Avatar
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    “Nasrallah’s Fuel Festival”
    Today was undoubtedly Nasrallah’s day in Lebanon.
    Hezbollah supporters celebrated the “promise kept.” According to the Lebanese Al-Mayadin Channel, 104 fuel tanks, each containing about 50,000 liters of Iranian fuel, entered the mainland, from Syria, to the Al-Qa’a area in Lebanon.
    The fuel that is being transported to Lebanon today is the one unloaded from the Iranian ship Faxon that docked, according to Nasrallah last Sunday in the port of Banias in Syria. Hundreds of more tankers are expected to enter Syria in the coming days, including Iranian fuel from Syria to Lebanon.
    Hezbollah supporters tweeted enthusiastically: “Nasrallah broke the American siege on Lebanon.”
    The convoy of tankers that continued to the storage site in Al-Qa’a was greeted with a happy shot, of the heavy kind (immediately photos and videos) and in a real holiday atmosphere.
    Nasrallah promised and lived. Iranian fuel will water Lebanon and buy Nasrallah and his organization many credit points. Although the amount is not large, in the meantime, the PR move accompanying the event is doing its thing. The Shiite axis knows how to work in this field.
    Along with Iranian fuel, which entered Lebanon contrary to the government’s position, and some in Lebanon see it as a violation of the Lebanese government’s sovereignty (state within state), Iraqi fuel is expected to arrive in Lebanon in significant quantities, as part of an agreement signed by the Lebanese government. Perceived in the supply of electricity to the residents.
    Here is a taste of the “holiday atmosphere” in photos and videos: https://t.me/abualiexpress/31090 This is called shooting joy https://t.me/abualiexpress/31091 And here’s another “heavy” joy shot. With a drop shaking in his hand, he could lower one of the tankers.

    1. vs Avatar
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      https://t.me/abualiexpress/31092 https://t.me/abualiexpress/31093 https://t.me/abualiexpress/31094 https://t.me/abualiexpress/31095 https://t.me/abualiexpress/31095?single

  2. vs Avatar
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    Along with the entry of Iranian fuel into Lebanon by Hezbollah fuel trucks from Syria, the Iranian oil tanker began unloading its contents that would feed the Deir Amar and Al-Zahrani power plants in Lebanon. This is expected to significantly improve electricity hours for Lebanese citizens https://t.me/abualiexpress/31100

  3. vs Avatar
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    Lebanon: Iranian fuel
    Yesterday, the designated Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, referred to Hezbollah’s fuel entry into Lebanon:
    “I am saddened by the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty but I do not fear sanctions as a result, as the action was not taken through state institutions.”
    In other words: a smile with a wink.
    Today, the Lebanese media reported that the municipality of Belbach (an institution subordinate to the Lebanese government) received a fuel quota from Hezbollah, which it distributed to generator owners who would sell electricity at a dictated rate.
    As mentioned, state institutions also benefit from Iranian fuel
    Hezbollah is strengthening its hold on Lebanon, using Iranian fuel

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