US Capitol
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US imposes sanctions on Lebanese firm for terrorist ties
Washington says consumer electronics company purchased supplies to develop drones for Hezbollah.
The United States on Thursday imposed financial sanctions on a Lebanese consumer electronics company, saying it purchased supplies used to develop military drones for the militant Hezbollah movement.
Stars Group Holding secretly bought electronics in the United States, Canada and Europe to help Hezbollah make drones for military activities in Syria and to conduct surveillance operations in Israel, the US Treasury said in a statement.
The company is based in Beirut and is owned and operated by brothers Kamel Mohamad Amhaz and Issam Mohamad Amhaz, the Treasury said. Washington also targeted the company's six subsidiaries, including Unique Stars Mobile Phones LLC in Dubai and Stars International Ltd in China.
The sanctions freeze any assets held by the companies, the Amhaz brothers or three others sanctioned, under US jurisdiction and forbid Americans from dealing with the firms.
Stars Group Holding sells cell phones and tablets.
Since the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, Shiite Hezbollah has used its political power and military force to pursue its goals, in particular defending the country from neighboring Israel.
Washington considers Hezbollah a terrorist group and has sought to persuade allies to adopt the same label, in part by highlighting what it says are illegal or destabilizing actions carried out by the group beyond Lebanon's borders.
