On January 18, 2022, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three Hizballah officials – Adel Diab, Ali Mohamd Daoun, and Jihad Salem Alame – and a Lebanon-based travel company that they own and operate, for providing financial support to Hizballah, a group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 1997 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist since 2001. OFAC imposed the new designations at a time when Hizballah, a part of Lebanon’s government, is blocking economic reforms in Lebanon and preventing changes that could help the Lebanese people. The designations were imposed pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, that targets terrorists, officials of terrorists groups, or persons that support acts of terrorism.
As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of today’s designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. In addition, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for a sanctioned person could have its access to the US financial system severed.
Daoun and the newly sanctioned travel company are also subject to Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations, as amended, that enables OFAC to prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintenance of correspondent or payable-through accounts in the US by any foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for Hizballah or Hizballah-related designees.
Department of Treasury Press Release