The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday on two former Lebanese government ministers for corruption and supporting Hezbollah. In a statement on Tuesday, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said it sanctioned former Lebanese government ministers Yusuf Finyanus and Ali Hassan Khalil, who provided material support to Hezbollah and engaged in corruption. "These designations underscore how some Lebanese politicians have conspired with Hezbollah at the expense of the Lebanese people and institutions. The United States supports the Lebanese people in their calls for a transparent and accountable government free of corruption. The catastrophic explosion at the port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020, has amplified these urgent calls, and the US government stands firmly in support of the Lebanese people's demands," the statement added. Commenting on the move, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted, saying: "We stand with the Lebanese people's call for reform and will promote accountability for anyone facilitating Hezbollah's terrorist agenda. Today the US is designating two corrupt former Lebanese ministers who abused their positions to provide material support to Hezbollah." The statement also said that the multi-layered crisis in Lebanon stems from decades of corruption and economic mismanagement. Some Lebanese political leaders have used backdoor deals and reliance on Hezbollah for personal gain and gains for their political allies ahead of the needs of the Lebanese people. "Corruption has run rampant in Lebanon, and Hizballah has exploited the political system to spread its malign influence," said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "The United States stands with the people of Lebanon in their calls for reform and will continue to use its authorities to target those who oppress and exploit them," he added. The statement also added that since October 2019, popular, cross-sectarian protests across the country demanded political and economic reform in Lebanon. The protesters' calls for "all of them, means all of them" demonstrates the seriousness of their desire for reform and to pull back the curtain on certain groups' corruption, including Hezbollah. — Agencies
