Beirut - Marwa Shaheen - Beth:

Today, Tuesday, the website of the US Treasury announced that the US authorities have imposed economic sanctions on three Lebanese businessmen, in addition to a Lebanese company working in the field of tourism, for reasons related to their association with the Lebanese Hezbollah, which is classified as a terrorist and providing funding and financial support to it.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has identified three financial facilitators linked to Hezbollah, as well as a Lebanon-based travel company. Specifically, OFAC has designated Adel Diab, Ali Mohamed Al Dawn, Jihad Salem Alama, and their company, Dar es Salaam Travel and Tourism, on the sanctions list.

This measure comes at a time when the Lebanese economy is facing an unprecedented crisis and Hezbollah, as part of the Lebanese government, is facing an unprecedented crisis. By obstructing economic reforms and preventing the change that the Lebanese people so desperately need.

On the nature of these sanctions and their consequences, the statement issued by the ministry clarified that through this action, the Treasury is working to disrupt businessmen who collect and launder money for Hezbollah’s destabilizing activities, while the Lebanese people face the worsening economic and humanitarian crises.

 The Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said: “Hezbollah claims to support the Lebanese people, but just like other corrupt actors in Lebanon identified by the Treasury, Hezbollah continues to profit from isolated business ventures and backdoor political deals, amassing wealth that the Lebanese people have never seen.”

As a result of these actions, all property and interests of the above individuals and entities, and any entities owned directly or indirectly by 50 percent or more by them, individually or with other Prohibited Persons, in the United States or in the possession or control of persons Americans, it should be banned and reported to OFAC.

In addition, Daoun and Dar es Salaam Travel and Tourism are subject to the Hezbollah Financial Sanctions Regulations, which implements the 2015 Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act. Pursuant to this act, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintenance in the United States of a correspondent account or payable account by a foreign financial institution that, among other things, intentionally facilitates a significant transaction of Hezbollah or some Persons designated for their connection to Hezbollah.

 It should be noted that the US Treasury has long pursued many Lebanese businessmen, companies and politicians for reasons related to Hezbollah financing, or money laundering in its favor, in an attempt to cut off financial supplies to Hezbollah, which it uses to finance its terrorist activities inside and outside Lebanon. Especially the payment of financial allocations to its armed elements, whether inside or outside Lebanon, and the financing of its military activities, especially in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.