U.S. Sanctions 'Squeezing' Hizbullah in Lebanon

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The conflict between Iran and the U.S. that has created tensions throughout much of the Middle East is now also being felt in Lebanon, where Washington has slapped sanctions on the Iran-backed Hizbullah and warned they could soon expand to its allies, further deepening the tiny Arab country’s economic crisis.

The Trump administration has intensified sanctions on the Lebanese group and institutions linked to it to unprecedented levels, targeting lawmakers for the first time as well as a local bank that Washington claims has ties to the group.

Two U.S. officials visited Beirut in September and warned the sanctions will increase to deprive Hizbullah of its sources of income. The push is further adding to Lebanon's severe financial and economic crisis, with Lebanese officials warning the country's economy and banking sector can’t take the pressure.

"We have taken more actions recently against Hizbullah than in the history of our counterterrorism program," Sigal P. Mandelker, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the U.S. Treasury, said in the United Arab Emirates last month.

Mandelker said Washington is confident the Lebanese government and the central bank will “do the right thing here in making sure that Hizbullah can no longer have access to funds at the bank.”

Hizbullah, whose Arabic name translates into "Party of God," was established by Iran's Revolutionary Guard after Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The group, which enjoys wide support among Lebanon's Shiite community, runs institutions such as hospitals, clinics and schools.

Today, it is among the most effective armed groups in the Middle East with an arsenal more powerful than that of the Lebanese army, and has sent thousands of its fighters to Syria to back President Bashar Assad's forces in that country’s civil war. Hizbullah and its allies have more power than ever in parliament and government and President Michel Aoun is a strong ally of the group.

Hizbullah has acknowledged the sanctions are affecting them, but it says it has been able to cope with sanctions imposed by the U.S. for years. The group, however, warned that it is the job of the Lebanese state to defend its citizens when they come under sanctions simply because they belong to the group, are Shiite Muslims, or are Hizbullah sympathizers.

In July, the Treasury Department targeted two Hizbullah legislators, Amin Sherri and Mohammad Raad, in the first such move against lawmakers currently seated in Lebanon's parliament. A month later, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Jammal Trust Bank for what it called “knowingly facilitating banking activities.” The bank, which denied the charges, was forced to close afterward.

Neither Sherri nor Raad responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

So far, all the figures who have come under sanctions have been either Hizbullah officials or Shiite Muslim individuals who Washington says are aiding the group.

Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the group will “study well our alternatives” now that the U.S. is targeting banks that Hezbollah does not own or deal with, as well as rich individuals and merchants simply because of their religious affiliation.

“We said it in the past that when we are subjected to injustice we can be patient, but when our people are subjected to injustice we should behave in a different way,” he said.

Nasrallah said the state and the government should defend Lebanese citizens. In an apparent reference to the Lebanese central bank that implements U.S. sanctions, Nasrallah said: “Some state institutions should not rush to implement the American desires and orders this way.”

Walid Marrouch, an associate professor of economics at the Lebanese American University, says Lebanon’s economy is 70% dollarized and since Lebanon is using this currency, Beirut has to abide by (U.S.) laws.

“We’re already living in a crisis and it will only make it worse,” he said of sanctions and if Lebanon decides to stop abiding by U.S. Treasury Department orders.

Antoine Farah, who heads the business section of the daily Al-Joumhouria newspaper, wrote that if Hizbullah's desires turn out to be orders, "we will be facing a confrontation such that no one would want to be in our shoes."

"If Hizbullah decides to fight America with the money of the Lebanese we guarantee a quick collapse and staying at the bottom for a long time, like Venezuela," he wrote.

During a visit to Beirut, David Schenker, the U.S.’s assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, said Washington will designate in the future "individuals in Lebanon who are aiding and assisting Hizbullah, regardless of their sect or religion."

Schenker did not elaborate in his interview with local LBC TV but local TV stations said Washington could start targeting Christian allies of the group, which has 14 members in parliament and three Cabinet ministers, including the Health Ministry.

Health Minister Jamil Jabbak, who is not a member of Hizbullah but is believed to be close to the group's leader, was not granted a U.S. visa to attend the U.N. General Assembly in late September.

Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Marshall Billingslea visited Lebanon last week and a U.S. Embassy statement said he would "encourage Lebanon to take the necessary steps to maintain distance from Hizbullah and other malign actors attempting to destabilize Lebanon and its institutions."

At the end of his visit, Billingslea met a group of journalists representing local media and told them that the U.S. Treasury was posting a $10 million reward for anyone who provides "valuable information on Hizbullah's finances," according to the Daily Star.

He said the main goal of the U.S. Treasury "was to deprive Hizbullah of all financial support, whether from Iran or through any other means." Billingslea said Iran used to send the group $700 million a year, adding that U.S. sanctions on Iran have "diminished considerably" the cash inflow.

Imad Marmal, a journalist close to Hizbullah who has a talk show on the group's Al-Manar TV, wrote that the group wants the Lebanese state to put forward a national plan to face the "American siege" that will end up affecting not only Shiites but the country's economy generally. He added that those who are being targeted by the sanctions are Lebanese citizens, whom the state should protect.

Hizbullah "is not going to scream in pain as the United States is betting, neither today nor tomorrow and not even in a hundred years."

Comments 8
Thumb joebustani over 4 years

Bless anyone person, entity, organization, brigade or country that inflicts extreme pain and unbearable suffering, death, torture, and destruction upon the iranian sectarian terrorist militia, its leaders, members, sponsors, supporters or followers wherever they may be.

Thumb Geralt over 4 years

"If Hizbullah decides to fight America with the money of the Lebanese we guarantee a quick collapse and staying at the bottom for a long time, like Venezuela".

The road to free Jerusalem passes by Venezuela; I only hope that Mr. Bassil will be the first to put his tail between his legs and flee the country (like his father in law did before him) in order to spare us more financial humiliations because of his cherished allies.

Missing ysurais over 4 years

Ya Manchouk why are u member of z parliament and u never attend... aren't u paid by z people to do yur job! isn't a high treason not to do one's job!!

Thumb ansarullah over 4 years

god bless hizbullah aka the lebanese army

ما بدنا جيش بلبنان إلا جيشك يا حسين

Missing arturo over 4 years

Iran must provide more monetary aid to Hezbollah -- increasing Iran's aid to $100m per month should solve the immediate problem. Also, given Hezbollah's control of the military and parts of the government, linking the pound to the rial rather than the USD makes sense.

Thumb doodle-dude over 4 years

U.S sanction should also 'squeeze' blablablablablabla's deep and wide luv tunnel and prevent any leaks. Virile young men who regularly penetrate his deep and wide luv tunnel have been recently complaining about not getting the same sensation and pleasure once penetration takes place.

Thumb Mystic over 4 years

Propaganda

Thumb galaxy over 4 years

Their souls need to be squeezed out of their iranian bodies.