Al-Fassel | 2025-11-15

The Treasury sanctions underscore growing US efforts to curb Hizbullah’s influence and financial operations.

Hizbullah, backed by significant financial support from Iran, leverages these resources to fund malign activities that exacerbate Lebanon's economic hardship, political instability and ongoing violence.

The group's involvement in Lebanon's political system and military operations has weakened state institutions and diverted funds from public services.

This has contributed to widespread corruption across the country.

As a result, the Lebanese population faces poverty, inflation and worsening living conditions.

Iran's financial backing enables Hizbullah to maintain its paramilitary operations and regional interventions, further isolating Lebanon internationally and deepening the suffering of its citizens.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued sanctions targeting individuals linked to transferring over $1 billion.

These transfers were conducted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Quds Force (IRGC-QF). The activity has been taking place since January 2025.

The funds, facilitated through Lebanese money exchange companies, have been used to bolster Hizbullah’s military forces and rebuild infrastructure.

They have also been used to resist Lebanese government efforts to assert sovereignty across the country.

John K. Hurley, the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the urgency of cutting Hizbullah off from Iranian support.

"Lebanon has an opportunity to be free, prosperous and secure, but that can only happen if Hizbullah is fully disarmed and isolated from Iran’s funding," Hurley stated.

He pledged continued collaboration with Lebanese authorities to strengthen the economy for the benefit of all citizens.

Sanctions highlight Hizbullah’s expansive financial network

The Treasury’s actions target Osama Jaber, Jafar Mohammad Qasir and Samer Kasbar, who are accused of playing critical roles in Hizbullah’s financial operations.

Jaber transferred tens of millions of dollars through exchange houses, some owned or managed by Hizbullah members.

Qasir and Kasbar have been linked to covert commercial activities, including the sale of Iranian oil and other goods.

After the collapse of Syria’s Assad regime in December 2024, Hizbullah’s financial network experienced disruptions.

This led to a redistribution of responsibilities within its finance unit.

Jafar Qasir and Ali Qasir, both sanctioned by the US, took on key roles in managing the group’s finances.

In mid-2025, Jafar and Ali attempted to recover the seized oil tanker Arman 114, which was transporting Iranian crude for Hizbullah-controlled brokers.

The Treasury disclosed coordination between Jafar Qasir and Syrian businessman Yasser Hussein Ibrahim, who is a sanctioned associate of Bashar al-Assad.

Jafar Qasir and Yasser Hussein Ibrahim worked together to facilitate the sale of Iranian products.

Sanctioned for providing material support to Hizbullah, Jaber, Qasir and Kasbar now face frozen US assets and a prohibition on transactions with US entities.

The Treasury urged Lebanon to tighten oversight of its exchange sector, which remains susceptible to misuse in the country’s cash-driven economy.