U.S. sanctions oil, gas smuggling network that funds Hezbollah

The State and Treasury Departments on Wednesday announced sanctions against individuals, companies and vessels allegedly funding the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah. 

The terrorist organization has repeatedly attacked Israel along its northern border, with attacks intensifying after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel.

The sanctioned parties allegedly generate revenue for the Lebanon-based terror group through oil smuggling, according to a State Department press release.

"The network designated today includes a senior leader of Hizballah’s illicit finance team, as well as Lebanese businessmen engaged in oil smuggling and even procurement of oil installations on behalf of Hizballah," the release continues.

The sanctions originate from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, according to an agency press release.

OFAC "is sanctioning three individuals, five companies, and two vessels that are involved in smuggling oil and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) to generate revenue for Hizballah," the release reads.

"The network, comprised of Lebanese businessmen and companies and overseen by a senior leader of Hizballah’s finance team, has facilitated dozens of LPG shipments to the Government of Syria and channeled the profits to Hizballah," OFAC alleges. "Illicit oil and LPG smuggling operations generate hundreds of millions of dollars for Hizballah and support the group’s terrorist activities."

Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith framed the need for sanctions as preventing regional instability.

"Hizballah continues to launch rockets into Israel and fuel regional instability, choosing to prioritize funding violence over taking care of the people it claims to care about, including the tens of thousands displaced in southern Lebanon," he said.

The sanctions target Muhammad Ibrahim Habib al-Sayyid, who allegedly "assumed responsibility for some of Hizballah’s commercial businesses," Ali Nayef Zgheib, who allegedly coordinated with al-Sayyid "on an oil project at a refinery site," and Boutros Georges Obeid, who allegedly "is also involved in Hizballah’s energy deals."

The sanctions also target five companies allegedly "involved in Hizballah’s energy deals" and two shipment vessels allegedly used to transport liquid petroleum gas for sale.

"As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC," the Treasury Department press release reads.