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Months earlier, it was expected that Washington would impose sanctions on former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, as reported by the US press to Bassil for his close association with Hezbollah within the political belt that was formed and strengthened after the Pact agreement in 2016. , which brought General Michel Aoun and Future Movement leader Saad Hariri to the presidency. For the prime minister, an agreement that was criticized by the Lebanese political forces opposed to Hezbollah.
Treasury Minister Stephen Mnuchin said in a statement: “The systematic corruption in the Lebanese political system, represented by Bassil, has contributed to undermining the foundations of an effective government that serves the Lebanese people.”
A senior US official said that Bassil’s support for the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which the United States considers a terrorist group, is the sole motivation behind imposing sanctions on Bassil. Washington imposed sanctions on several Hezbollah members.
Gebran Bassil is one of the most influential politicians on the Lebanese scene. And because of his affiliation with Maronite Christians, he has ambitions for the presidency, since according to the sectarian quota system, the office of president must be filled by a Maronite figure who has been a prominent advisor to Aoun since 2005 and one of his collaborators. close.
Bassil, 50, became the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement in 2015, founded by Aoun, Lebanon’s largest Christian political bloc. The Free Patriotic Movement identifies itself as a party defending Christian rights. He is married to Chantal, one of Aoun’s three daughters.
Saad Hariri, who was appointed last month to form the government for the fourth time, described Bassil as the head of the shadows, in a statement reflecting the widespread belief that he has great influence over Aoun, 87, who took office. the presidency in 2016.
Bassil was previously Minister of Communications, Minister of Energy and Water Resources and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Since the FPM forged a political alliance in 2006 with Hezbollah, Bassil has defended the armed group as essential to the defense of Lebanon. As for Hezbollah, this alliance provided Christian approval to arm it.
In 2019, Bassil, standing next to visiting US Secretary of State in Beirut, Mike Pompeo, opposed Washington’s designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist group, describing it as a popular party and representatives in Parliament.
In a recent speech, Bassil said that some in his party wonder why the movement is sticking to its deals with Hezbollah at a time when the movement is paying a heavy price while Hezbollah is not doing its part to reform Lebanon. .
Bassil responded by saying that his answer to those asking those questions is that they stand with Hezbollah against Israel and terrorism, referring to Hezbollah’s campaign against Sunni militant groups, including the Islamic State, adding that the price, even if the movement is incurred, it is in exchange for defending Lebanon.
