The United States imposed sanctions on individuals and entities tied to what it described as a global financial network supporting Hezbollah, according to a US State Department statement released on Friday.
“The United States is imposing sanctions to disrupt a global financial network that supports Hezbollah,” the statement said.
According to the statement, released by State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, the sanctions are intended to disrupt fundraising and money laundering activities carried out on behalf of Hezbollah’s finance team through a range of companies and projects operating across the Middle East, Europe, and North America, with the aim of cutting off financial channels that help the Iran-backed group generate revenue and evade existing sanctions.
"This action targets individuals and entities involved in laundering and raising funds for Hezbollah's finance team through a range of companies and projects operating across the Middle East, Europe, and North America," the statement continued. "By cutting off these financial channels, the United States is taking concrete steps to limit Hezbollah's ability to generate revenue for terrorism and evade sanctions."
State Department: Hezbollah's attacks on Israel "reckless"
The State Department also linked the sanctions to Hezbollah’s recent attacks on Israel, saying the terrorist group showed once again that it prioritizes terror activity on behalf of Iran over the welfare of the Lebanese people.
Hezbollah's reckless attack on Israel demonstrates yet again that it prioritizes the pursuit of terrorism on behalf of the Iranian regime over the peace and safety of the Lebanese people," said the statement. “Hezbollah continues to spend millions of dollars on terrorism, leaving Lebanese civilians to deal with the consequences and depriving them of a normal life.”
The department noted that the Trump administration views the sanctions as part of a broader effort to weaken Hezbollah’s operational and financial capabilities and reduce what it described as threats to US and regional security.
"By targeting Hezbollah's financial enablers, the Trump Administration is taking decisive action to disrupt the group’s ability to threaten the security of the United States and the Middle East," the statement concluded.