US sanctions senior Hezbollah members, army and general security officials

The US Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against nine individuals in Lebanon for obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah.

According to the designation, the sanctioned Hezbollah-aligned officials “seek to preserve the Iran-backed terrorist group’s influence over key Lebanese state institutions.”

The Treasury sanctioned Hezbollah MPs Hassan Fadlallah, Ibrahim al-Moussawi, and Hussein al-Hajj Hassan and former MP and minister Mohammed Fneish.

Sanctions also include Mohammad Reza Sheibani, Iran’s ambassador designate to Lebanon whom the latter declared persona non grata and ordered him to leave Beirut and Amal security officials Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi.

It also sanctioned National Security Department Chief Brigadier General Khattar Nasser Eldin and the army’s Intelligence Directorate Dahiyah Branch Chief Colonel Samir Hamadi for sharing “important intelligence” with Hezbollah during the ongoing conflict over the past year.

“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

“Treasury will continue to take action against officials who have infiltrated the Lebanese government and are enabling Hezbollah to wage its senseless campaign of violence against the Lebanese people and obstruct lasting peace,” Bessent added.