Today, the United States is designating two Hizballah-aligned Lebanese officials, as well as members of a Hizballah business network overseen by U.S.-designated Alaa Hassan Hamieh. These officials have used their influence to deliberately and systematically undermine the authority of the Lebanese state. By aligning themselves with Hizballah, a terrorist organization, they have prevented the Lebanese government from exercising full control over its territories and over its future. These activities obstruct efforts to restore a sovereign, independent Lebanon, instead entrenching a system of parallel power that keeps Lebanon weak and divided, at the expense of the entire Middle East. Additionally, we are designating more interlocutors of Alaa Hamieh and his network in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Oman who raise funds, execute contracts, and operate front companies to generate revenue for Hizballah terrorists.
Hizballah is a terrorist organization that puts Iran, not Lebanon, first. Hizballah is the single biggest obstacle to Lebanon’s recovery and future, and holds the state hostage to a permanent state of conflict. Those who continue to provide political cover and material support to Hizballah will suffer the consequences of their choices. For the sake of lasting peace in the region and Lebanese stability and prosperity, Hizballah must disarm, its infrastructure must be dismantled, and the Lebanese state must regain its control of Lebanon’s future. The United States will continue to target Hizballah’s finances and those who help the group undermine the state of Lebanon.
Today’s action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. The U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 31, 2001, and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on October 8, 1997. More information on today’s designations can be found in Treasury’s Press Release.
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