US sanctions elected Hezbollah MPs and Lebanese security officials

The United States imposed sanctions on nine people accused of enabling Hezbollah and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Treasury said the designations aim to obstruct the peace process in Lebanon and impede Hezbollah’s disarmament. The State Department said the sanctioned individuals include members of Lebanon’s parliament, an Iranian diplomat, and security officials in Lebanese governmental institutions who allegedly abused their roles. The list includes four Hezbollah members, two officials linked to the Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement, and two security officials in Lebanese security institutions. The Treasury also alleged that a Lebanese Armed Forces branch chief and a General Security official shared intelligence with Hezbollah over the past year. US officials offered rewards up to $10 million for information to disrupt Hezbollah’s financial mechanisms.

"The United States has imposed sanctions on nine people it accuses of enabling Hezbollah to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty, the latest US effort to destroy the group's financial networks around the world. In a statement on Thursday, the US Department of the Treasury said the individuals were designated for obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah. The US Department of State said those sanctioned include members of Lebanon's parliament, an Iranian diplomat and security officials in Lebanon's governmental institutions who abused their roles."

"“What this is saying is that if you're in politics, business, or the security services and you have been aiding Hezbollah and undermining the sovereignty of the Lebanese government to think twice; there will be real consequences,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in an interview with Al Jazeera. The nine include four Hezbollah members, including Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Fanich, a leader in Hezbollah's executive council; Nizammeddine Fadlallah, one of the group's elected members of the Lebanese parliament, and longtime officials Ibrahim al-Moussawi and Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan, according to the US Treasury."

"Also on the list was Iranian ambassador-designate to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, and two security officials with the Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement, Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi. Finally, two security officials a branch chief with the Lebanese Armed Forces, Samir Hamadi, and Khattar Nasser Eldin, a top official with the General Directorate for General Security faced sanctions for allegedly sharing important intelligence with Hezbollah over the past year, the Treasury said."

"US officials are also offering a reward of up to $10m for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of the group. Hezbollah says the sanctions will have absolutely no effect' on its strategy amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon."

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