US slaps fresh sanctions on Hezbollah over Syria

Sanctions will freeze Hezbollah assets under US jurisdiction, prohibit Americans from dealing with the Lebanese group.

By REUTERS
Hezbollah, Lebanon flags near Beirut airport 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Sharif Karim)
Hezbollah, Lebanon flags near Beirut airport 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Sharif Karim)
WASHINGTON - The United States on Friday imposed a new round of economic sanctions against Hezbollah for providing support to Syria's government, the Obama administration's latest action aimed at stopping Syrian President Bashar Assad from violently suppressing his people.
Hezbollah has been providing training, advice and extensive logistical support to the government of Syria, the US Treasury said in a statement announcing the financial penalties.
The US sanctions will freeze any assets Hezbollah may have under US jurisdiction and prohibit Americans and US companies from dealing with the Lebanon-based group.
The Treasury Department also said Hezbollah has directly trained Syrian government officials within the country and has facilitated the training of Syrian forces by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The United States has already blocked Syria's central bank and top Syrian government officials from US markets. On Friday, the administration also imposed sanctions on Syria's state-run oil company Sytrol for having provided gasoline to Iran.