US imposes sanctions on Iranian intelligence, Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon

Sep 17, 2020

The United States rolled out sweeping new sanctions on Thursday, blacklisting cyber actors the Donald Trump administration says are backed by Iranian intelligence and Lebanon-based targets it says are linked to Hezbollah. 

The US Department of Treasury sanctioned two Lebanon-based companies, Arch Consulting and Meamar Construction, for alleged links to the Iranian-backed Shiite group. Hezbollah Executive Council official Sultan Khalifah As’ad, who the Treasury said had close links to the two companies, was also designated. 

“Through Hezbollah’s exploitation of the Lebanese economy and manipulation of corrupt Lebanese officials, companies associated with the terrorist organization are awarded government contracts,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement. 

“The United States remains committed to targeting Hezballah and its supporters as they corruptly abuse Lebanese resources to enrich their leaders while the Lebanese people suffer from inadequate services,” he added.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on two former Lebanese ministers accused of providing political and economic favors to Hezbollah. The sanctions, which targeted Yusuf Finyanus and Ali Hassan Khalil, were aimed at tackling the rampant corruption that has fueled Lebanon’s worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.