The U.S. sanctions list has not exempted current and former MPs or former ministers, extending to serving security officers and businesspeople from various sects.
Washington cites various reasons for placing Lebanese figures under sanctions, but the majority of those listed are from "Hezbollah" or individuals whom the U.S. administration describes as politically or financially collaborating with the party. The list also includes figures from political currents allied with the party, most notably the "Marada Movement," as well as the head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," MP Gebran Bassil, and figures not closely associated with "Hezbollah," such as Jihad al-Arab.
The first MP whose name appeared on the list was Asaad Hardan in 2007. In the same year, sanctions were imposed on former minister Wiam Wahhab.
About 10 years later, businessman Kassim Tajideen was targeted.
As for the "Free Patriotic Movement," its leader, MP Bassil, was placed on the sanctions list in 2020 under the "Magnitsky Act" on charges related to corruption.
That same year saw the first sanctions targeting the "Amal Movement," with former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil sanctioned on charges of providing material and political support to Hezbollah.
The third former minister included in 2020 was the "Marada Movement" leader Youssef Fenianos.
In 2023, sanctions were imposed on MP Jamil al-Sayyed under the "Magnitsky Act," while businessman Jihad al-Arab, who is close to the "Future Movement," was also listed.
Washington also imposed sanctions on leading figures in "Hezbollah," including former Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, former security official Wafic Safa, and former political assistant to the Secretary-General Hussein Khalil.
Later, former ministers Mohammad Fneish and Mahmoud Qomati were also included.
In May of the previous year, MPs Hassan Fadlallah, Ibrahim Moussawi, and Hussein Hajj Hassan were listed, bringing the number of current MPs included in the sanctions to six.
For the first time, two serving officers were included: Brigadier General Khattar Nasser Al-Din, head of the Security Analysis Division in the General Security Directorate, and Colonel Samer Hamadeh, head of the southern suburb branch of Beirut in the Military Intelligence Directorate.
The list also included "Amal Movement" leader Ahmad Baalbaki and member of the movement's South Regional Leadership Ali Safawi.
The sanctions also included former "Marada Movement" leader and minister Sleiman Frangieh.
At the time, the U.S. Treasury Department indicated that the reason for the sanctions was "obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and hindering the disarmament process of Hezbollah."
U.S. sanctions were not limited to politicians, security officials, and businessmen. They also included associations affiliated with "Hezbollah" or those the U.S. administration believes are close to it.
The latest sanctions list included "Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association," "Joud Company," "Tashilat Association," and a research institution, following the previous inclusion of the environmental association "Green Without Borders" on the sanctions list.
Companies that have been subjected to sanctions include "Globe SARL" and "Healing for Administrative Services." Several businessmen and bankers from Turkey, Iran, and Lebanon were also listed.
It is worth noting that U.S. sanctions include freezing assets within the United States, banning financial dealings with U.S. entities, sometimes banning travel, and listing names on the OFAC sanctions list maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department.
