US Puts Hezbollah MPs in Lebanon on Sanctions List for First Time

• 07.10.2019, 16:09
•  Near East,  World

sdusyria.org

The US Treasury added three top Hezbollah figures to its list of sanctioned individuals on Tuesday, including two members of the Lebanese Parliament and a security official responsible for coordinating between Hezbollah and Lebanon's security agencies, Al-Jazeera reports.

It was the first time the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control had designated a member of Lebanon's Parliament under a sanctions list that targets those accused by Washington of providing support to "terrorist organisations".

OFAC said it had added Amin Sherri and Muhammad Hasan Ra'ad, both members of Lebanon's Parliament, for acting on behalf of Hezbollah. In an unusual move, it also released photos of the individuals, including one in which Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani has his arm around Sherri's shoulder.

OFAC said it also designated Wafiq Safa, who is in charge of Hezbollah's Liaison and Coordination Unit responsible for coordinating with Lebanese security agencies.