House approves legislation to thwart Hezbollah's cash flow

WASHINGTON – The House approved bipartisan legislation Wednesday to block the flow of illicit money to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and to sanction the group for using civilians as human shields as lawmakers took aim at what they called Tehran's leading terrorist proxy.

The measures were approved by voice vote.

The bill targeting Hezbollah's finances, sponsored by Reps. Ed Royce and Eliot Engel, directs the Trump administration to sanction the people and businesses engaged in fundraising and recruitment activities for the group. Royce, a California Republican, is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Engel of New York is the panel's top Democrat.