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Lebanon PM: US sanctions won't affect government

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Wednesday that U.S. sanctions targeting Hezbollah MPs moved in a "new direction" from existing measures, but would not affect government work.

 

The sanctions against two Hezbollah MPs and one of the Shi'ite Muslim movement's top security officials widen a U.S. campaign that Washington says has designated 50 Hezbollah-linked individuals and entities since 2017.

 

It marks the first time the United States has targeted lawmakers in the heavily armed, Iran-backed organisation which is listed as a terrorist group by Washington but is also part of Lebanon's coalition government.

 

The move weighed on Lebanese sovereign bonds on Wednesday.

 

"No doubt, it has taken a new direction... but this will not affect the work we are doing in parliament or the ministers," Hariri said in a statement.

 

"It is a new matter that we will deal with as we see fit ... The important thing is to preserve the banking sector and the Lebanese economy and, God willing, this crisis will pass sooner or later," he said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.10.19, 18:01