Summary
The United States announced sanctions on nine people embedded in Lebanese state institutions that U.S. officials say have worked to protect Hezbollah’s influence. The move, coordinated by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, names parliamentarians, security officials and media figures identified as part of an effort to prevent full disarmament of the Iran-backed group. Washington said it is also pressing to disrupt the group’s financial networks.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. government on Thursday designated nine individuals under sanctions, citing their roles in upholding Hezbollah’s presence within Lebanon’s government and security apparatus and in undermining efforts to disarm the Iran-backed organisation.
In a statement accompanying the action, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said the targeted officials held positions across Lebanon’s parliament, military and security services, where they allegedly worked to preserve Hezbollah’s leverage over key Lebanese institutions.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was quoted in the announcement: "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed."
The announcement reiterated U.S. and regional views of Hezbollah as an armed organisation backed by Iran. The designation noted that the group was founded in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and is listed as a "terrorist group" by the United States and by some Gulf Arab states. The U.S. blamed Hezbollah for deadly suicide bombings in 1983 that killed 241 U.S. service personnel and destroyed the U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut, and for an attack that killed 58 French paratroopers in a French barracks, as well as a suicide attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in 1983.
In recent diplomatic developments, Israel and Lebanon agreed last week to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire that has helped quiet a conflict in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, which had escalated months earlier after the start of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Alongside the sanctions, the State Department said it would offer monetary support for intelligence that helps dismantle the group’s financial structures. "The State Department will pay up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of the militant group," spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Pigott added in a statement: "This is only the beginning. Anyone still shielding or collaborating with this terrorist organization, or otherwise undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty, should understand that they will be held accountable. A stable, secure, and independent Lebanon requires the full disarmament of Hezbollah and the restoration of the Lebanese government’s exclusive authority over security matters throughout the country."
Individuals Named in Thursday’s Sanctions
- Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Fanich - identified as the leader of Hezbollah’s executive council.
- Hassan Nizammeddine Fadlallah - described as a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament since 2005 and associated with Al Nour Radio and Al Manar TV, both of which have been sanctioned by the U.S.
- Ibrahim al-Moussawi - said to head Hezbollah’s media committee and to represent the group in parliament.
- Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan - noted as having served as a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament since 1996.
- Mohammad Reza Sheibani - identified as the Iranian ambassador designate to Lebanon; Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry declared him persona non grata after withdrawing approval of his candidacy and ordered him to leave Beirut.
- Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki - listed as a security official of the Amal Movement, a political ally and security partner of Hezbollah.
- Ali Ahmad Safawi - described as a security official of the Amal Movement and commander of the Lebanese Amal militia in southern Lebanon who led its forces in joint Hizballah-Amal military operations against Israel.
- Brigadier General Khattar Nasser Eldin - named as head of the Lebanese General Directorate for General Security and accused of sharing intelligence with Hezbollah.
- Colonel Samir Hamadi - identified as a senior Lebanese intelligence official.
Context in U.S. Policy
The designations and the monetary incentive for information on Hezbollah’s finances are presented by U.S. officials as part of ongoing efforts to constrain the group’s operational and financial capabilities and to press for Lebanese state control over security. The Treasury statement framed the sanctions as targeting a network of individuals embedded within Lebanese institutions whose activities run counter to disarmament and to a sovereign, unified security authority under the Lebanese government.
Washington’s messaging underscores an expectation that those who assist or shield Hezbollah will face consequences, and it ties the restoration of central Lebanese state authority over security matters to the full disarmament of Hezbollah.
Reporting on developments of the U.S. sanctions and any responses from the named individuals or Lebanese authorities was not included in the announcement.