By Al-Fassel | 2025-05-31

The United States has sanctioned four key Hizbullah financial operatives, exposing an intricate international donation network that channels millions of dollars to support the group's military, political and social operations worldwide.

The two senior Hizbullah officials and two financial facilitators blacklisted May 15 coordinate transfers between overseas donors and the group's leadership, primarily through Iran and Lebanon, the US Treasury said.

The move "underscores Hizbullah's extensive global reach through its network of terrorist donors and supporters, particularly in Tehran," said Treasury Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender.

As part of its ongoing efforts to address Iran's support for terrorism, he said, the Treasury will "continue to intensify economic pressure on the key individuals in the Iranian regime and its proxies who enable these deadly activities."

Global money trail

Among those sanctioned is Muin Daqiq al-Amili, a senior Hizbullah representative in Qom, Iran, who has coordinated the group's foreign donations since 2001.

During the most recent Israel-Gaza war, al-Amili facilitated the delivery of at least $50,000 from Iran to Lebanon, funds likely intended for transfer to Gaza, the Treasury said.

Working alongside al-Amili is Jihad Alami, who operates in Lebanon as the financial conduit for the office of the late Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, it said.

Alami manages large cash pools, directing them toward military, humanitarian and propaganda activities while deliberately avoiding formal banking channels, according to FinCrime Central.

The sanctions also target Fadi Nehme, an accountant and business partner of previously blacklisted Hizbullah Central Finance Unit chief Ibrahim Ali Daher.

Nehme part-owns the US-sanctioned firm Auditors for Accounting and Auditing, which provides financial services to Hizbullah, according to the Treasury.

In Africa, senior Hizbullah official Hasan Abdallah Nimah managed millions in transactions, including hundreds of thousands of dollars transferred to the Hizbullah-aligned Islamic Movement of Nigeria as recently as August 2022.

Enforcement measures

The sanctions block all US-based property and interests of the designated individuals and prohibit US citizens from conducting transactions with them.

Foreign financial institutions risk losing access to the US financial system if they knowingly facilitate significant transactions for these individuals, according to Treasury guidelines.

Violations can result in civil penalties starting at $50,000 per incident or criminal fines up to $1 million and 20 years imprisonment under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, enforcement guidelines state.

Additional restrictions come from export control laws, with the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security blocking these individuals from accessing sensitive dual-use technologies, according to federal regulations.

The Treasury's action builds on previous sanctions targeting Hizbullah's oil sales networks and commercial enterprises.