US punishes two Lebanese Hezbollah leaders

The US Treasury Department announced that it had imposed sanctions on two members of the Hezbollah Central Council, Nabil Qaouk and Hassan Al-Baghdadi.

The ministry said in a statement that the party’s central council is responsible for identifying and electing the group’s highest decision-making body, which is the Shura Council.

The Shura Council works to formulate policy and ensure control over all aspects of Hezbollah’s activities, including the military.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said: “Hezbollah’s top leaders are responsible for creating and implementing the terrorist organization’s destabilizing agenda (which includes) violence against the interests of the United States and the interests of our partners throughout the world”.

“We must continue to hold Hezbollah accountable for its horrible actions as we approach the 37th anniversary of Hezbollah’s bombing of the US Navy headquarters in Beirut,” he added.

Kaouq and Al-Baghdadi are designated under Executive Order 13224 and its amendments, which target terrorists, leaders of terrorist groups and their supporters.

According to the ministry statement, Qaouk worked on the Hezbollah Executive Council, which in turn oversees the party’s social and economic activities, and worked on the Central Council.

In recent years, Kaouk has spoken publicly on behalf of Hezbollah, threatening war with Israel, denouncing the American presence in the region, and praising Hezbollah’s use of guerrilla warfare, which has undermined security in Lebanon. .

Kawouk delivered speeches on behalf of Hezbollah at various ceremonies to commemorate the dead elements of the party, including Imad Mughniyeh and the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani.

Al-Baghdadi participated in political events and made speeches on behalf of Hezbollah, in many of them praising the party’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, and defending the attacks against the Americans.

And in 2020, Al-Baghdadi attended a seminar during which he praised the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its fighters in Syria and Iraq for attacking US military bases.

The sanctions affect all property and interests associated with Qawooq and Al-Baghdadi, directly or indirectly, individually or with other prohibited persons, found in the United States or in the possession of Americans.

The sanctions also prohibit any dealings that people from or through the United States have with the people imposed on them.

The new sanctions come hours after Saad Hariri was assigned to form a government in Lebanon, and observers believe they may further toughen the party’s position and hamper its government formation.

And US Under Secretary of State David Schenker responded earlier on whether future US sanctions will stop in Lebanon after Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri agreed to negotiate with Israel on the borders. Maritime, saying: “There is no agreement or something to read about it. Impose sanctions on Hezbollah and its Lebanese allies, and through the Magnitsky Law, against those who commit human rights violations and acts of corruption.

He added: “There is no agreement and the sanctions will continue regardless of the talks on the demarcation of maritime borders and the formation of the government. I saw it three weeks ago when (former Lebanese Minister Yusef) Fenianos and (former Minister) Ali Hassan Khali classified us. “.