The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on three Lebanese nationals and 10 companies it said were part of an international Hezbollah network, accusing them of evading sanctions on the group with an armed militia that is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by Washington.
The US Treasury Department in a statement said it designated Adnan Ayad, who it said was a Hezbollah member and businessman, as well as other members of an international network of facilitators and companies connected to him and his business partner, Adel Diab, who was designated by Washington on Tuesday.
Treasury also designated Ayad’s son, Jihad Adnan Ayad, who is a Hezbollah member and is affiliated with Adnan Ayad’s business network.
Ali Adel Diab, Adel Diab’s son, was also designated Friday.
“Today’s action exposes and targets Hezbollah’s misuse of the international financial system to raise and launder funds for its destabilizing activities as the Lebanese people suffer during an unprecedented economic crisis in Lebanon,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. “Treasury is committed to disrupting Hezbollah’s illicit activity and attempts to evade sanctions through business networks while the group doubles down on corrupt patronage networks in Lebanon.”
