Washington– A group of Hezbollah parliamentarians, state security officials and allies of the armed group came under US sanctions on Thursday, for allegedly seeking to maintain the Iran-backed group’s influence over Lebanese state institutions and obstruct disarmament efforts.
This is the first time that Washington has imposed sanctions on two current Lebanese security officials, one from the country’s General Security Service and the other from Military Intelligence, both of whom are accused of providing Hezbollah with “illicit support” and intelligence during the ongoing conflict.
This announcement comes as pressure mounts on Beirut to take more decisive measures to disarm the group.
The sanctions imposed on Thursday include a former government minister and a senior Hezbollah official Muhammad FneeshSenior Hezbollah representatives Hassan FadlallahAnd Ibrahim Al-Moussawi and Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan. All of them opposed efforts aimed at disarmament.
Muhammad Reza Al-Shaibani, Iranian ambassador-designate to Lebanon The Lebanese Foreign Ministry ordered him to leave Beirut -He was also subjected to sanctions.
The Treasury Department accuses the men of undermining Lebanon’s ability to disarm the Iranian-backed Shiite militant organization.
This announcement comes as announced by Lebanese and Israeli officials Continue low-level talks in Washington In an attempt to end the months-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. Military officials from both sides are expected to hold their first direct talks at the Pentagon on May 29, as Israel ramps up pressure on Lebanon to disarm the powerful group, and Beirut urges Israel to end its daily air strikes and withdraw its forces from large swaths of southern Lebanon.
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that at least 19 people were killed on Tuesday, including four women and three children.
Hezbollah has rejected the ongoing talks, instead supporting Iranian talks with the United States with Pakistani mediation. It rejects local and international calls to disarm. The Lebanese president and prime minister came to power in early 2025 on a reform platform that pledged to disarm all non-state groups, including Hezbollah. Washington and Israel have criticized the slow process, but authorities fear a more confrontational approach could risk armed conflict in the small Mediterranean country.
The sanctions announced on Thursday prevent the parties from accessing any property or financial assets owned in the United States. It is unclear what kind of ties they have to the US financial system.
Hezbollah has been designated a “foreign terrorist organization” under the authority of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the death penalty has been effective since 1997.
“Treasury will continue to take action against officials who have infiltrated the Lebanese government,” Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said in a statement, adding that Hezbollah had launched a “senseless campaign of violence against the Lebanese people.”
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Chehayeb reported from Beirut.