New American Sanctions on Hezbollah

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has added 6 individuals and 8 companies to its sanctions list over suspected financing of Hezbollah. The sanctions specifically target Lebanese businessman Ahmad Jalal Rida Abdullah, who is the financial intermediary for Hezbollah, along with five individuals associated with him and 8 of his companies in Lebanon and Iraq. The office stated in a statement that the individuals and companies targeted by Washington are as follows: Ahmad Jalal Rida Abdullah, Ali Rida Abdullah, Hussein Ahmad Jalal Abdullah, Hussein Rida Abdullah, Hussein Kamel Atiyeh, and Joseph Elia Hidemus. The companies include "Al-Makhtar Products," "Focus Media S.A.L.," "Focus Media S.A.L. Offshore," "United General Contracting," "United General Holding," "United General Offshore," "United General Services," and "United International Exhibitions S.A.L."