U.S. Treasury Sanctions Nine Hezbollah-Linked Lebanese Officials, Including Ibrahim Al-Mousaoui

The United States Treasury Department announced Thursday sanctions against nine officials it considers linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of advancing Iran’s agenda and undermining Lebanese sovereignty by obstructing peace processes.

EFE quoted State Department spokesman Tommy Piggot saying, "Today’s designations target individuals who are impeding Hizballah’s disarmament," and said the list included Lebanese deputies Ibrahim Al-Mousaoui, Hassan Fadlallah, and Hussein al-Hajj Hassan.

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The Times of Israel reported that the sanctions were the first time Washington sanctioned sitting Lebanese state security officials, naming one from the country’s General Security agency and one from military intelligence, and said they were accused of providing Hezbollah with "illicit support" and intelligence.

The Times of Israel also said the announcement came as pressure mounted on Beirut to take more decisive action in disarming Hezbollah, and it described low-level talks in Washington as a bid to end a monthslong war between Israel and Hezbollah that flared up again after Hezbollah opened fire on Israel in support of Iran.

In parallel, EFE said Lebanon and Israel agreed to open a dialogue under the auspices of the US to stop Israeli bombings in parts of Beirut and southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah rejected the negotiations in Washington.

Hezbollah said the newly imposed US sanctions targeting members of its parliamentary bloc and Lebanese security officials were meant to boost Israel after what it described as failures in Lebanon, and Anadolu Ajansı reported that the group said the measures would have "no practical impact" on its political choices.

Anadolu Ajansı quoted Hezbollah’s statement that the sanctions were intended to give Israel a "political boost" after the failure of its actions to deter the Lebanese people from exercising their legitimate right to resistance.

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The Lebanese Army responded by affirming that its officers were loyal to the military institution and the nation, with Asharq Al-Awsat English reporting that the army said it was not informed of the sanctions beforehand.

Asharq Al-Awsat English also said the US sanctioned army colonel Samir Hamadi and Khattar Nasser Eldin, and that Washington accused them of sharing "important intelligence" with Hezbollah over the past year.

In a separate statement, the Lebanese Army Command said what was being circulated about the military delegation slated to participate in negotiations at the Pentagon on May 29, 2026, "has no bearing on the principles of the military institution," according to CNN Arabic.

The sanctions arrived as military officials from both sides were expected to hold their first direct talks in the Pentagon on May 29, with The Times of Israel saying Israel mounted pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah while Beirut urged Israel to end its daily airstrikes and withdraw its troops from large swaths of southern Lebanon.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon on Tuesday killed at least 19 people, including four women and three children, Lebanon’s health ministry said, and it described Hezbollah dismissing the ongoing talks while backing Iran’s talks with the US mediated by Pakistan.

Kurdistan24 said the sanctions were executed under Executive Order 13224, as amended, and described the OFAC designations as freezing all property and interests in property of the targeted individuals that fall within U.S. jurisdiction.

Kurdistan24 also said the sanctions targeted serving members of Lebanon’s state security apparatus, naming Brig.-General Khattar Nasser Eldin and Colonel Samir Hamadi, and it quoted Scott Bessent saying, "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed."

In parallel, CNN Arabic reported that the Lebanese army leadership confirmed that all officers perform their national duties with professionalism, responsibility, and discipline, and emphasized that the loyalty of the soldiers is to the military institution and the homeland only.