Friday, August 30, 2019

Assistant Secretary Schenker’s Travel to Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan, and Lebanon

MEDIA NOTE
OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON
AUGUST 30, 2019
Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, will travel to Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan, and Lebanon September 4-13 to discuss security and economic issues with government and civil society leaders.

During his trip, Assistant Secretary Schenker will emphasize the importance of our bilateral relationships and underscore the United States' deep commitment to continue working with our partners and allies in the region toward stability in the Middle East and North Africa.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Explanation of Vote after the Renewal of the UN Security Council Mandate for UNIFIL (Lebanon)

Ambassador Jonathan Cohen
Acting Permanent Representative
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York City
August 29, 2019

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Madame President. The United States joined consensus in support of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate renewal today. We commend France for the cooperative spirit in which it led this process. I also want to express our deep appreciation to the troop-contributing countries for their ongoing sacrifices to support UNIFIL's critical work.

And we of course welcome the active approach that UNIFIL's leadership has taken to de-escalate tensions along the Blue Line and preserve the mission's vital access to it.

The United States remains steadfast in our commitment to UNIFIL and to Lebanon's security, stability, and sovereignty. We have a common interest in seeing UNIFIL succeed, but it continues to be prevented from fully implementing its mandate; and we cannot continue to accept the status quo.

The implementation of the arms embargo under resolution 1701 remains a top priority for the United States. While some Council members did not want to include language that was too prescriptive in this mandate renewal, in the coming year the Secretariat needs to take serious steps to build on the annex and increase the UN's reporting on, and ability to effectively monitor and verify implementation of, the arms embargo.

As we made clear to the Council just a few weeks ago, we continue to see UNIFIL prevented from accessing areas of concern. Eight months after their discovery, UNIFIL still cannot access suspected Hizballah tunnels sites on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line because Lebanese leaders have not directed their armed forces to investigate suspected sites with UNIFIL.

In this renewal, we made serious efforts to address access issues. There was some progress, but we were unable to include a timeframe for facilitating access, which is necessary for accountability. We must do more to ensure UNIFIL has unimpeded, timely access to the entire Blue Line and to urge Lebanese civilian leadership to address these concerns.

The fact that UNIFIL cannot access all of the areas within its area of operations leads us to believe that it is time to re-examine troop strength and begin the process of putting the mission on a trajectory toward right-sizing. In the year ahead, we will be scrutinizing the ability of the mission to implement its mandate and we hope the UN will take seriously the assessment of the continued relevance of UNIFIL's resources and options for mission efficiencies.

We have all endorsed the Secretary-General's Action for Peacekeeping Declaration of Shared Commitments. One of those commitments is to pursue "clear, focused, sequenced, prioritized and achievable mandates by the Security Council matched by appropriate resources." If UNIFIL is prevented from fully implementing its mission within the parameters of its current mandate, then it is this Council's responsibility to adjust its mandate accordingly.

We look forward to working with the Council over the course of the year, but I must reiterate that we need to see serious progress and cannot, and will not, accept the status quo moving forward.

Thank you, Madame President.

###

Sanctioning of Jammal Trust Bank

08/29/2019 03:52 PM EDT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned today Lebanon-based Jammal Trust Bank SAL (Jammal Trust) for supporting Hizballah's illicit financial and banking activities.  Jammal Trust has a longstanding relationship with a key Hizballah financial entity and provides financial services to the Martyrs Foundation and companies controlled by Hizballah's Executive Council.  Jammal Trust's misconduct undermines the integrity of the Lebanese financial system.

Today's designation reflects our determination to counter Hizballah's terrorist and illicit activities in Lebanon.  We will continue to target individuals and entities involved in financing and providing support to Hizballah while working closely with the Central Bank of Lebanon and other Lebanese institutions which work to preserve the integrity and stability of Lebanon's banking system.

Treasury Targets Facilitators Moving Millions to HAMAS in Gaza

August 29, 2019

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in partnership with the Sultanate of Oman, designated financial facilitators responsible for moving tens of millions of dollars between Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and HAMAS's operational arm, the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza.  OFAC designated Muhammad Sarur, Kamal Abdelrahman Aref Awad, Fawaz Mahmud Ali Nasser, and Muhammad Kamal al-Ayy for providing financial, material, technological support, financial or other services to, or in support of, HAMAS.  These individuals were designated under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

"These facilitators funneled tens of millions of dollars from Iran's Qods Force through Hizballah in Lebanon to HAMAS for terrorist attacks originating from the Gaza Strip.  HAMAS's continued violent campaign against innocent civilians and the state of Israel is to the great detriment of the people in Gaza," said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.  "This Administration will not falter to hold HAMAS and its Iranian leaders accountable for their violence.  Treasury will continue to disrupt terrorist networks by targeting those who generate funds to carry out the Iranian regime's violent agenda."

The Lebanon and Gaza-based financial facilitators targeted today are critical intermediaries between the Iranian regime, and the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and end users in the West Bank.  At the center of this scheme is a Lebanon-based financial operative, Muhammad Sarur, who has been identified as being in charge of all financial transfers between the IRGC-QF and the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, and has an extensive history working at Hizballah's sanctioned bank, Bayt al-Mal.  Bayt al-Mal was designated by OFAC in 2006 for being owned or controlled by, and acting for or on behalf of Hizballah.  Also sanctioned today are three Gaza-based individuals who have been integral to providing funding to HAMAS's prisoner and martyrs infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza.


HAMAS was designated by the Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in October 1997 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 in October 2001.  It was also listed as a Specially Designated Terrorist (SDT) in January 1995 in the Annex to E.O. 12947, which targets terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process.

MUHAMMAD SARUR

Muhammad Sarur (Sarur) provides financial, material, technological support, financial or other services to or in support of, HAMAS.

Sarur, a Beirut, Lebanon-based HAMAS and Hizballah-linked financial operative, is in charge of transferring tens of millions of dollars per year from the IRGC-QF to the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades.  As of 2014, Sarur was identified as in charge of all money transfers from the IRGC-QF to Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades.  Overall, in the past four years, the IRGC-QF transferred over U.S. $200 million dollars to the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades.  The IRGC-QF, a branch of the IRGC, has provided material support to numerous terrorist groups.  The IRGC-QF is a designated FTO and SDGT, and the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades is a designated FTO, SDGT, and SDT.

Sarur served as a middle-man between the IRGC-QF and HAMAS and worked with Hizballah operatives to ensure funds were provided to the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades.  In 2011 and extending through 2016, Sarur worked for Hizballah's Bayt al-Mal.  To transfer funds to HAMAS in Gaza, Sarur coordinated transfers through an individual who served as a Gaza-based HAMAS financial facilitator and money smuggling operations officer.

KAMAL ABDELRAHMAN AREF AWAD

Kamal Abdelrahman Aref Awad (Awad) provides financial, material, technological support, financial or other services to or in support of, HAMAS.

In early 2018, Awad, a Gaza-based HAMAS financial associate, coordinated with the same Gaza-based HAMAS financial facilitator, leveraged by Sarur, to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits for HAMAS.

As of 2017, the Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades worked through Awad to distribute funds to the families of "martyrs" in the West Bank.  Also in 2017, Awad coordinated the mismanagement of certain HAMAS prisoner entitlement funds.  As of early 2016, HAMAS senior official Salih al-Aruri relied on Awad for detailed information regarding HAMAS prisoners and payments to HAMAS prisoners.  Salih al-Aruri was designated by OFAC as an SDGT in September 2015 for acting for or on behalf of, and providing financial support to, HAMAS.

FAWAZ MAHMUD ALI NASSER & MUHAMMAD AL-AYY

Fawaz Muhmud Ali Nasser (Nasser) and Muhammad Kamal al-Ayy (al-Ayy) provide financial, material, technological support, financial or other services to or in support of, HAMAS.

As of mid-2018, Nasser, a Gaza-based HAMAS financial auditor, worked with Gaza-based money exchanger al-Ayy to transfer Iranian funds through Hizballah to HAMAS and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a designated FTO, SDGT, and SDT.  Nasser also managed funds related to HAMAS prisoners, including those in the Ofer prison.

As of late 2016, al-Ayy worked with a Gaza-based HAMAS financial facilitator to coordinate funds transfers to HAMAS.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.  OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.  In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action. 

View identifying information related to today's action here.


Treasury Labels Bank Providing Financial Services to Hizballah as Specially Designated Global Terrorist

August 29, 2019

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Jammal Trust Bank SAL (Jammal Trust), a Lebanon-based financial institution that knowingly facilitates banking activities for Hizballah.  Specifically, OFAC designated Jammal Trust as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 for assisting in, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Hizballah.  Jammal Trust has a longstanding relationship with a key Hizballah financial entity and provides financial services to Hizballah's Executive Council and the Iran-based Martyrs Foundation.  As part of today's action, OFAC also designated Jammal Trust's Lebanon-based subsidiaries Trust Insurance S.A.L., Trust Insurance Services S.A.L., and Trust Life Insurance Company S.A.L., for being owned or controlled by Jammal Trust. 
 
"Treasury is targeting Jammal Trust Bank and its subsidiaries for brazenly enabling Hizballah's financial activities.  Corrupt financial institutions like Jammal Trust are a direct threat to the integrity of the Lebanese financial system.  Jammal Trust provides support and services to Hizballah's Executive Council and the Martyrs Foundation, which funnels money to the families of suicide bombers," said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.  "The U.S. will continue to work with the Central Bank of Lebanon to deny Hizballah access to the international financial system.  This action is a warning to all who provide services to this terrorist group."
 
Today's action highlights how Hizballah continues to prioritize its interests, and those of its chief sponsor, Iran, over the welfare of Lebanese citizens and Lebanon's economy.  We regret that Hizballah has brought hardship to the Shia community, in particular, and call upon the Lebanese Government to exert every effort to mitigate the impacts on innocent account holders who did not realize Hizballah was putting their savings at risk.  The United States is confident that the Central Bank of Lebanon and other Lebanese institutions, through their legal and regulatory policies and oversight functions, will continue to work to protect the stability and soundness of Lebanon's financial system, which is critical to supporting a stable and prosperous economy.
 
The Department of State designated Hizballah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in October 1997 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 in October 2001.  Hizballah was first listed in January 1995 in the Annex to E.O. 12947, which targets terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process, and also designated in August 2012 pursuant to E.O. 13582, which targets the Government of Syria and its supporters.
 
JAMMAL TRUST BANK SAL
 
Jammal Trust assists in, sponsors, or provides financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Hizballah.
 
Jammal Trust knowingly facilitates the banking activities of U.S.-designated entities openly affiliated with Hizballah, Al-Qard al-Hassan and the Martyrs Foundation, in addition to services it provides to Hizballah's Executive Council.  Hizballah has used accounts at Jammal Trust to pay its operatives and their families, and Jammal Trust has actively attempted to conceal its banking relationship with numerous wholly owned Martyrs Foundation subsidiaries.  When opening purportedly "personal accounts" at Jammal Trust, Al-Qard al-Hassan officials clearly identified themselves to Jammal Trust as senior members of the terrorist group.  Jammal Trust then facilitated these accounts to be used to conduct business on Al-Qard al-Hassan's behalf.  Such a scheme is representative of the deep coordination between Hizballah and Jammal Trust, which dates back to at least the mid-2000s and which spans many of the bank's branches in Lebanon.  Also, Hizballah Member of Parliament Amin Sherri coordinates Hizballah's financial activity at Jammal Trust with the bank's management.  OFAC designated Amin Sherri in July 2019 for acting for or on behalf of Hizballah pursuant to E.O. 13224.
 
The Treasury Department designated the Martyrs Foundation, including its U.S. branch, and Al-Qard al-Hassan, under E.O. 13224 in July 2007.  The Martyrs Foundation is an Iranian parastatal organization that channels financial support from Iran to several terrorist organizations in the Levant, including Hizballah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).  Martyrs Foundation branches in Lebanon have also provided financial support to the families of killed or imprisoned Hizballah and PIJ members, including suicide bombers in the Palestinian territories.  Additionally, Hizballah used Al-Qard al-Hassan as a cover to manage its financial activity, and it has assumed a prominent role in Hizballah's financial infrastructure.
 
TRUST INSURANCE S.A.L.
 
OFAC designated Trust Insurance S.A.L. (Trust Insurance) for being owned or controlled by Jammal Trust.
 
In 2001, Trust Insurance and Trust Life Insurance Company S.A.L. became members of the Jammal Trust group, to provide standard insurance products to individuals and institutional clients.  Trust Insurance, which was established in 1996, is a subsidiary of Jammal Trust and is 99.42% owned by the bank. 
 
TRUST INSURANCE SERVICES S.A.L.
 
OFAC designated Trust Insurance Services S.A.L. (Trust Insurance Services) for being owned or controlled by Jammal Trust.
 
Trust Insurance Services, which was established in 2012, is a subsidiary of Jammal Trust and is 90% owned by the bank.
 
TRUST LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY S.A.L. 
 
OFAC designated Trust Life Insurance Company S.A.L. (Trust Life) for being owned or controlled by Jammal Trust.
 
Trust Life, which provides life insurance services, was established in 2001.  Trust Life and Trust Insurance products are backed by Jammal Trust.  Moreover, Trust Life is a subsidiary of Jammal Trust and is 99.56% owned by the bank. 
 
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
 
The Treasury Department continues to prioritize disruption of the full range of Hizballah's illicit financial activity.  With this action, OFAC has designated over 50 Hizballah-affiliated individuals and entities since 2017.
 
As a result of today's sanctions, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.  OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.  In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action. 
 
The four entities designated today are further subject to secondary sanctions pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations, which implements the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015, as amended by the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2018.  Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for Hizballah, or a person acting on behalf of or at the direction of, or owned or controlled by, Hizballah.
 
View identifying information related to today's action here

 

####


Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Ambassador Elizabeth Richard Congratulates the Lebanese Armed Forces

By  | 21 August, 2019 

On August 21, Ambassador Elizabeth Richard and U.S. military representatives attended a live-fire exercise conducted by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at the Akoura military complex.  In remarks to the press, Ambassador Richard congratulated the LAF for demonstrating outstanding professionalism and sophistication in safely executing complex maneuvers using advanced-technology weaponry and equipment, calling the live-fire exercise an "extremely challenging operation with lots of moving parts," and noting that "the communication among all of the elements was extraordinary." Ambassador Richard stated "it was my honor to be a guest of the LAF," adding that "we are firm believers in this army and I hope every Lebanese believes in this Army, as well."

The live-fire exercise employed a variety of military equipment, including Bradley vehicles, A-29 aircraft, Huey helicopters, and Humvees, to perform a broad range of air and ground maneuvers, including surveillance, attack, and search-and-rescue operations. The military equipment provided through U.S. military assistance is maintained and operated by Lebanese soldiers and airmen, demonstrating the capacity of the LAF to generate trained and ready forces for operations, the core goal of the U.S.-Lebanon Protected Mobility Program.  In comments to the press, the Ambassador highlighted last week's delivery of Humvees and security equipment, valued at over $60 million. Since 2006, the U.S. government has provided Lebanon over $1.7 billion in security assistance.


Paraguay’s Designation of Hizballah as a Terrorist Organization

PRESS STATEMENT
MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE
AUGUST 21, 2019

We commend Paraguay for designating Hizballah, al-Qa'ida, ISIS, and Hamas as terrorist organizations.  This important step will help cut off the ability of these groups to plot terrorist attacks and to raise money around the world, including in the Western Hemisphere.

The world is increasingly recognizing Hizballah for what it is – not a defender of Lebanon as it purports to be, but a terrorist organization dedicated to advancing Iran's malicious agenda.  Like al-Qa'ida and ISIS, Hizballah has a global reach, with operations and plots disrupted in recent years in the Americas, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

With this action, Paraguay joins other nations in designating Hizballah, including most recently Argentina, Kosovo, and the United Kingdom, in addition to Australia, Canada, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab League.  We call on others around the world to follow suit.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri Treaty Room Washington, D.C.

REMARKS
MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE
TREATY ROOM
WASHINGTON D.C.
AUGUST 15, 2019

SECRETARY POMPEO:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.  If you'd like to proceed with your remarks.

PRIME MINISTER HARIRI:  Sure.  Today, I met Secretary Pompeo, whom I consider a great friend of Lebanon.  I thanked him for the U.S. Government's continued support to Lebanon and especially of the Lebanese Armed Forces and national security forces.  I reaffirmed our partnership and joint commitment to the fight against terrorism.

I also confirmed to the Secretary our commitment to continuing the negotiation process led by Ambassador Satterfield on behalf of the U.S. Government concerning our land and maritime borders.  The proposal was communicated to the president of the republic and the speaker of the parliament and to me.  We consider the process to be viable and will continue to support constitutional next step leading up to a final decision in the coming months, hopefully September.

Equally, there is a continued support for the CEDRE Conference and Capital Investment Plan, which are essential to the revival of the Lebanese economy.  We are dedicated to advancing these initiatives which will bolster security and stability for Lebanon and the region.  Thank you.

SECRETARY POMPEO:  Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, and welcome again.

I've gotten to know the prime minister well over the past years, and I appreciate you coming to join and have a visit here today.  During our conversation, I reiterated the United States commitment to a bright future for the people of Lebanon.  And as part of that commitment, we continue to support the credible state institutions inside of Lebanon.  They are essential to preserving Lebanese security, stability, and sovereignty, and they are essential to making sure that the needs of all of the Lebanese people are met.

They are also essential to an effective response to the many political, economic, and humanitarian challenges in Lebanon.  This is a region that is threatened by Iran and is a nation threatened by its proxy Hizballah, and we welcome the prime minister's courageous commitment to keep taking full responsibility for Lebanon's defense.

We also welcome his commitment to undertake the ambitious and necessary reforms which will unlock future international assistance for Lebanon's economy.  And we want to say thank you as well, and welcome to the commitment that they have made to providing refugees, especially the now more than 1 million that have come from Syria into Lebanon.  You've provided them shelter from the repressive and depraved Assad regime, and we appreciate that.  And we look forward to continuing to make further progress on our partnership.

I also am very appreciative of the prime minister's statement about the commitment to make progress towards the resumption of productive expert-level discussions for the handful of remaining points with respect to the Blue Line and the initiation discussions on the Israel-Lebanon maritime border.  We are prepared to participate as a mediator and facilitator in the maritime discussions, and we do hope that we will soon see substantive discussions on these important issues, the resolution of which would be greatly beneficial to Lebanon and to the broader region.

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you again for visiting today.

PRIME MINISTER HARIRI:  Thank you so much.

SECRETARY POMPEO:  Good luck to you.  It was great to be with you.  Thank you.  Thank you, all.



Friday, August 09, 2019

Lebanese Businessman Tied by Treasury Department to Hezbollah is Sentenced to Prison for Money Laundering Scheme Involving the Evasion of U.S. Sanctions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 8, 2019

The operator of a network of businesses in Lebanon and Africa whom the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated as a financier of  Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist group, was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to forfeit $50 million by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton of the District of Columbia.

Kassim Tajideen, 63, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in furtherance of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).  In 2009, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Tajideen as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist based on his tens of millions of dollars of financial support of Hezbollah.  The designation prohibited Tajideen from being involved in, or benefiting from, transactions involving U.S. persons or companies without a license from the Department of the Treasury.

"This defendant knowingly violated sanctions and put our nation's security at risk," said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division.  "His sentencing and the $50 million forfeiture in this case are just the latest public examples of the Department of Justice's ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle Hezbollah and its support networks."

"Today's sentencing highlights our efforts to prosecute those who violate sanctions meant to stem the flow of money to terrorists groups," said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia. "Our message to those who violate sanctions is that you will be found, and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

"This is the latest example of DEA's success against Hezbollah's global criminal support network and our commitment to interagency collaboration in combatting the overall threat posed by this transnational criminal organization," said Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA's Special Operations Division Michael J. Machak.

According to the statement of facts signed by Tajideen in conjunction with his plea, after his designation, Tajideen conspired with at least five other persons to conduct over $50 million in transactions with U.S. businesses that violated these prohibitions.  In addition, Tajideen and his co-conspirators knowingly engaged in transactions outside of the United States, which involved transmissions of as much as $1 billion through the United States financial system from places outside the United States.

Tajideen's case falls under DEA's Project Cassandra, which targets Hezbollah's global criminal support network, which operates as a logistics, procurement and financing arm for Hezbollah.  This investigation and others are part of the Department of Justice's Hezbollah Financing and Narcoterrorism Team (HFNT).  The HFNT was formed in January 2018 to ensure an aggressive and coordinated approach to prosecutions and investigations, including Project Cassandra cases, targeting the individuals and networks supporting Hezbollah.  Comprised of experienced international narcotics trafficking, terrorism, organized crime, and money laundering prosecutors and investigators, the HFNT works closely with partners like the DEA, the Department of the Treasury, and the FBI, among others, to advance and facilitate prosecutions of Hezbollah and its support network in appropriate cases.

This case was investigated by DEA SOD's Counter Narcoterrorism Operations Center (CNTOC) and the DEA New Jersey Field Division, with support from the CPB's National Targeting Center/Counter Network Division, the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs, and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joseph Palazzo of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas A. Gillice, Luke Jones, Karen Seifert and Deborah Curtis and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline L. Barkett of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

Topic(s): 
Financial Fraud
Foreign Corruption
Press Release Number: 
19-852

Thursday, August 08, 2019

Statement of the Ambassador of the United States to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard

By U.S. Embassy Beirut | 7 August, 2019 |
The United States supports fair and transparent judicial review without any political interference. Any attempt to use the tragic June 30 event in Qabr el-Shamoun to advance political objectives should be rejected. The US has conveyed in clear terms to Lebanese authorities our expectation that they will handle this matter in a way that achieves justice without politically motivated inflammation of sectarian or communal tensions.

Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Counter Terrorism Designation Update

8/6/2019

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Specially Designated Nationals List Update

The following changes have been made to OFAC's SDN List:
 
SERHAN, Fadi Hussein (a.k.a. SARHAN, Fadi Husayn; a.k.a. SIRHAN, Fadi), Own Building, Kanisat Marmkhael, Saliba Street, Corniche, Al-Mazraa, Beirut, Lebanon; Jaafar Building, Mazraa Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Jaafar Building, Mseytbi Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Jaafar Building, Salim Slam Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Jishi Building, Salim Slam Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Own Building, Main Street, Kfar Kila, Lebanon; DOB 01 Apr 1961; POB Kafr Kila, Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations; Gender Male; Passport RL0962973 (Lebanon) (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: HIZBALLAH). -to- SERHAN, Fadi Hussein (a.k.a. SARHAN, Fadi Husayn; a.k.a. SIRHAN, Fadi), Own Building, Kanisat Marmkhael, Saliba Street, Corniche, Al-Mazraa, Beirut, Lebanon; Jaafar Building, Mazraa Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Jaafar Building, Mseytbi Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Jaafar Building, Salim Slam Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Jishi Building, Salim Slam Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Own Building, Main Street, Kfar Kila, Lebanon; Mazraa, Salim Slam St., Borj Al Salam Bldg., Beirut, Lebanon; DOB 01 Apr 1961; POB Kafr Kila, Lebanon; alt. POB Kfarkela, Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Gender Male; Passport RL 0962973 (Lebanon) expires 08 Feb 2012; alt. Passport RL 3203273 expires 20 May 2020; VisaNumberID 87810564 (United States); alt. VisaNumberID F0962973 (individual) [SDGT] [HIFPAA].​