US hits Hezbollah with more sanctions, says Iran controls it

The United States announced fresh sanctions on Thursday targeting an alleged Hezbollah financing network, emphasizing the group's close ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Hezbollah's official designation as a terrorist organization was updated to clarify its role as a proxy for Iran, specifically under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force.

This move comes as the US encourages Israel and Lebanon to engage in direct negotiations, despite the ongoing state of war between the two nations. Hezbollah has consistently rejected these talks.

The designation, upgraded in 2001, now explicitly identifies Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy, not an independent entity. The new designation underscores Hezbollah's disregard for Lebanese sovereignty, the Lebanese people, and the Lebanese state. This change follows Hezbollah's March support for Israel with rocket fire in response to Iran, leading to a heavy Israeli air campaign and ground invasion that has reportedly resulted in over 4,300 casualties.

The sanctions target ten individuals who are believed to be part of a network facilitating the transfer of funds to Hezbollah. This network utilizes couriers traveling on commercial flights between Lebanon, Turkey, the UAE, and Iran to move millions of dollars outside the formal financial system, enabling Hezbollah to acquire foreign currency and evade sanctions. The Treasury statement described Hezbollah as an extension of Iran, rather than a Lebanese resistance movement, as the group describes itself.