The US Treasury on Tuesday approved two former Lebanese cabinet ministers allied with the militant group Hezbollah in an unusual move against politicians close to the Iranian-backed group.
Approved officials include former Finance
Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former Works and Transport Minister Youssef Fenianos.
Khalil is a senior official in the Shiite
Amal group, led by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Fenianos is a member
of the Christian Marada group, which is affiliated’ with Hezbollah and the
Syrian government.
The US Treasury Secretary said Khalil and Fenianos
"provided material support to Hezbollah and became involved in
corruption."
US officials have warned that a new wave
of sanctions would target Hezbollah allies, which Washington considers a
terrorist organization.
The United States has targeted Hezbollah
with sanctions for years, but this is the first time it has imposed sanctions
on Amal and Marda officials who have close ties to Hezbollah.
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