US sanctions elected Hezbollah MPs and Lebanese security officials

Key points

• Hezbollah says the sanctions will have ‘absolutely no effect’ on its strategy amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
• The United States has imposed sanctions on nine people it accuses of enabling Hezbollah to “undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty”, the latest US effort to destroy the group’s financial networks around the world.
• In a statement on Thursday, the US Department of the Treasury said the individuals were designated “for obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament” of Hezbollah.
• The US Department of State said those sanctioned include members of Lebanon’s parliament, an Iranian diplomat and security officials in Lebanon’s governmental institutions who “abused” their roles.
• “What this is saying is that if you’re in politics, business, or the security services – and you have been aiding Hezbollah and undermining the sovereignty of the Lebanese government – to think twice;