U.S. imposes sanctions on former Lebanese officials citing Hezbollah ties

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of the Treasury has blacklisted two former Lebanese ministers and imposed sanctions on them for their support of Lebanese Hezbollah and involvement in corruption.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury announced that it had imposed sanctions on the former Lebanese Minister of Public Works, Yusuf Finyanus, and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, accusing them of providing material support to Hezbollah and engaging in corruption.

The U.S. Treasury said it would freeze the assets of the former Lebanese ministers and prevent citizens and companies in the U.S. from doing business with them.

Commenting on the U.S. Treasury’s decision, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs David Schenker said that sanctions against Lebanese officials have begun and will continue, and officials must listen to the demands of the Lebanese people.

These sanctions, continued Schenker, serve as a message that anyone who deals with Hezbollah, including Lebanese officials, will be punished.