Lebanon Not Bound by US Sanctions, No Action Against Officers Yet

Attention in Lebanon is turning to how the state will respond to unprecedented US sanctions that targeted two officers from the army and General Security, along with figures, including MPs, from Hezbollah and its ally the Amal Movement that is headed by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Although Lebanon is not legally bound to comply with the decision, and no direct measures have so far been taken against the two targeted officers, Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said he had asked General Security Director General Maj. Gen. Hassan Choucair to investigate any violations, if any exist, and take the necessary measures. No measures yet Security sources said what was surprising was that the army and General Security had not been notified of the sanctions through official and legal channels, as both commands learned of the measures through statements and the media. The sources asked: “As long as Col. Samir Hamadeh is the head of the Beirut southern suburbs branch at the Lebanese army’s Intelligence Directorate, who is he supposed to coordinate with on the ground in the southern suburbs?” They explained that intelligence coordinates with other parties in other areas, while also dismissing as “misguided” claims that significant intelligence was being shared with Hezbollah. “So far, no measures have been taken against them, and they are still carrying out their duties,” they added. The US Treasury accuses the two officers of sharing significant intelligence with Hezbollah during the ongoing conflict over the past year. ‘Political message’ Legal and constitutional expert Said Malek said the sanctions against officers were “a political message from the US Treasury Department that dealing with Hezbollah, which is internationally banned and whose military wing in Lebanon has effectively been disbanded, has become prohibited and carries consequences.” He told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Lebanese state, through the relevant ministries and administrations, is not obliged to comply with the decision, even if it could obstruct the payment of salaries to those targeted, their transactions, or their cooperation with local and foreign agencies.” “The government may understand the adoption of such decisions, but they are not binding on the state. In other words, nothing requires that these individuals be held accountable or punished, as they are subject to Lebanese laws, not decisions taken by a Western administration,” Malek explained. Who was targeted? Among the nine figures targeted by the sanctions were four Hezbollah lawmakers: MP Mohammad Fneish, whom the US Treasury said heads Hezbollah’s Executive Council and is responsible for reorganizing the party’s administrative and institutional structure to preserve its armed presence in Lebanon. MP Hassan Fadlallah, whom the Treasury said helped establish Al-Nour Radio, which is designated by the United States, and served as a senior director at Al-Manar television, also designated by Washington. MP Ibrahim al-Moussawi, a longtime Hezbollah official who currently heads the party’s media committee. MP Hussein al-Hajj Hassan, whom the Treasury described as one of the most prominent figures opposing Hezbollah’s disarmament. In a clear message to the Amal Movement, the sanctions also included Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi. The Treasury statement said they were security officials in Amal. “Baalbaki serves as Amal’s security director and coordinates shows of force with Hezbollah’s leadership to intimidate political opponents in Lebanon,” said the Treasury. “Safawi is the commander of the Amal militia in southern Lebanon. Acting as Baalbaki’s subordinate, Safawi coordinated with and took direction from Hizballah on attacks against Israel as well as leading Amal militia forces in joint Hizballah-Amal military operations against Israel.” Notably, the sanctions also targeted Mohammad Reza Sheibani, Iran’s ambassador-designate to Lebanon, whom Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry declared persona non grata after withdrawing its approval of his accreditation and asking him to leave Beirut. Sheibani has defied the order and remained in Lebanon. The US statement noted “Iran’s violation of diplomatic norms, as well as the practices routinely used by the ambassador in communication between the two states, was cited as the reason for Sheibani’s expulsion.”