US government sanctions Hezbollah operatives, companies

The US Treasury moved to disrupt the fundraising and operation of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group today, imposing sanctions on four operatives and a firm that have assisted the organisation, long seen as a terrorist outfit by Washington.

In a related action, the US State Department sanctioned Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai, originally an Iranian, under US counter-terrorism rules. Ali Tabatabai has commanded Hezbollah special forces, operated in Syria and has been reported to have been active in Yemen, the State Department said in a statement.

The sanctions prevent US citizens from doing business with the individuals and also a related organisation, Global Cleaners SARL. Saudi Arabia joined the United States in imposing sanctions on some of the people, the Treasury Department said in statement.

The department imposed sanctions on Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Kallas, Hasan Jamal Al-Din, Yosef Ayad and Muhammad Ghaleb Hamdar.

It said Kallas and Jamal Al-Din provided financial services for Hezbollah member and financier Adham Tabaja through work for Al-Inmaa Engineering and Contracting LLC. The Treasury said Global Cleaners was owned or controlled by Tabaja and had sanitation contracts in Baghdad, Iraq’s capital.

Ayad and Hamdar were designated for helping Hezbollah plan and support acts of terrorism, the Treasury said. It said the two were members of Hezbollah’s External Security Organization. Hamdar was arrested in Lima, Peru, in October 2014 on suspicion of planning Hezbollah attacks in that country, it said.

Hezbollah enjoys strong support among Lebanon’s Shia community and wields enormous political influence in that country. Its military wing plays a major role in the Syrian conflict, where it has taken part in almost every major operation against the Syrian opposition, including in Aleppo.

US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have said they are troubled by Iran’s support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah.

Critics say the US administration has not done enough to counter Iran’s activities and the groups it backs in the region, especially in light of a nuclear deal reached last year that lifted international sanctions on Iran.