The U.S. Department of Treasury has designated on January 18th three “Hezbollah-linked financial facilitators” and their travel company based in Lebanon, Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism.
The U.S. sanctions of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will affect the travel company and its three founders: Adel Diab, Ali Mohamad Daoun, and Jihad Salem Alame.
According to the statement, “This action comes at a time in which the Lebanese economy faces an unprecedented crisis and Hizbullah, as part of Lebanon’s government, is blocking economic reforms and inhibiting much-needed change for the Lebanese people.”
The OFAC indicated that Hezbollah‘s widespread network of financial facilitators has helped the party to “exploit Lebanon’s financial resources and survive the current economic crisis,” by gaining access “to material and financial support through the legitimate commercial sector to fund its acts of terrorism and attempts to destabilize Lebanon’s political institutions.”
These sanctions are part of the U.S. Treasury’s continuous efforts against the Iran-backed Lebanese party and its exploitation of the global financial sector, allowing the party to circumvent sanctions.
These new U.S. sanctions include businessman Adel Diab for being a Hezbollah member using his business to raise funds for Hezbollah and facilitate its activities.
As for Jihad Salem Alame and Hezbollah official Ali Mohamad Daoun, they are accused of having “materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of” Hezbollah.
Their travel agency is now designated under E.O. 13224 for being owned, controlled, or directed by Daoun.
