The US State Department announced, on Wednesday, that “the United States and Qatar have taken coordinated actions against a financial network (based in the Gulf region) because of its support and financing of the Lebanese organization, Hezbollah.”
And the US Department added, in a statement published on its website, that “Ali Reda Hassan Al-Bannai, Ali Reda Al-Qasabi Larry, and Abdel-Moayyed Al-Bannai were included on the sanctions list, for their financial assistance, care, and providing financial, material, technical, or goods support, or services to Hezbollah.
Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Nabi Shams, Yahya Muhammad al-Abd al-Muhsin, Majdi Fayez al-Ustad, and Suleiman al-Bannai were also placed on the list of sanctions for providing material, financial, or technological assistance, goods or services to Ali al-Bannai, according to the same statement.
In addition, Qatar-based Aldar Real Estate Company was designated on the list for being owned, controlled or directed by Sulaiman Al Bannai, directly or indirectly.
The US State Department indicated that “this action represents one of the most important joint measures we have taken with a partner of the Gulf Cooperation Council so far, and confirms our extensive bilateral cooperation in combating terrorist financing.”
She noted that “Hezbollah seeks to misuse the international financial system by taking advantage of the global networks of financiers and front companies to support its malign activities.”
“The United States will continue to cooperate with partners such as the government of Qatar to protect the United States and the international financial systems from terrorist abuse,” the statement said.
He noted that “there is increasing international recognition of the true nature of Hezbollah, as 14 countries in Europe and South and Central America have taken significant steps to designate, restrict, or ban Hezbollah over the past several years.”
The State Department also urged other governments to follow suit.
There was no immediate reaction from Doha.
Several countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany, classify Hezbollah, both politically and militarily, as a terrorist organization and prohibit the party’s activities on their soil.
