The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on May 21 that it has designated nine individuals in Lebanon for actions obstructing the peace process and hindering efforts to disarm Hizballah. These individuals are described as being aligned with Hizballah and embedded across various sectors of Lebanon’s parliament, military, and security forces.
According to the Treasury, these officials have played a role in maintaining Hizballah’s influence over key Lebanese state institutions. The department said this undermines the government’s authority and impedes progress toward lasting peace in Lebanon.
“Hizballah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said. “Treasury will continue to take action against officials who have infiltrated the Lebanese government and are enabling Hizballah to wage its senseless campaign of violence against the Lebanese people and obstruct lasting peace.”
The designations were made under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorism. Among those named are Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Fanich, Hassan Nizammeddine Fadlallah, Ibrahim al-Moussawi, Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan—all identified as political representatives or senior figures associated with Hizballah—and Mohammad Reza Sheibani, Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki, Ali Ahmad Safawi, Khattar Nasser Eldin, and Samir Hamadi for their roles supporting or coordinating with Hizballah through diplomatic or security channels.
As a result of these actions, all property belonging to these individuals within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked. Entities owned at least 50 percent by any blocked person are also subject to sanctions restrictions. The Treasury emphasized that violations may lead to civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. and foreign persons involved in prohibited transactions.
Bessent said that OFAC sanctions aim not only at punishment but also at encouraging positive changes in behavior: “The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.”
