US Secretary of State John Kerry
Photo: Reuters
US imposes sanctions on Hezbollah commanders, operatives, financiers
The Hezbollah terrorist organization is hit twice, after the US State Department adds Hezbollah leaders to its global terrorist list and the US Treasury sanctions several Hezbollah individuals for suspected ties to terrorism.
The US government on Thursday sanctioned a Hezbollah commander and a number of other operatives and financiers linked to the militant group who it said were working to destabilize the Middle East.
The US State Department, headed by Secretary John Kerry, added Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai to its Specially Designated Global Terrorist list, which "imposes sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a serious risk of committing acts of terrorism."
US Secretary of State (Photo: Reuters)
Tabatabai has commanded Hezbollah special forces, operated in Syria and is now believed to be in Yemen, the State Department said. His actions in Syria and Yemen "are part of a larger Hezbollah effort to provide training, material and personnel in support of its destabilizing regional activities."
Lebanon-based Hezbollah has operated openly and in significant numbers in neighboring Syria, as well as alongside fellow Shiite fighters in Iraq. Hezbollah has long supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, providing training, advice and extensive logistical support, while also helping his government regain control of rebel-held areas in central Syria.
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah (Photo: AFP)
The US Treasury Department, headed by Secretary Jack Lew, also sanctioned Tabatabai and a number of other individuals on Thursday under a standing executive order that prohibits US banks from having any dealings with "persons who commit, threaten to commit or support terrorism" and blocks any property or assets they may have in the United States.
US Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew (Photo: AFP)
The Treasury said it was a joint action with Saudi Arabia aimed at "disrupting Hezbollah's worldwide commercial and financial infrastructure."
In 2012, the Treasury Department further sanctioned Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah for helping the Syrian regime crush anti-government protests.
