US freezes accounts of four Hezbollah members

Treasury Department says sanctions due to Lebanese group’s expanded international activities

By Lara Jakes 22 August 2013, 10:19 pm

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Hezbollah supporters wave flags and hold up Arabic banners that read, "At your service God's prophet; America equals terrorism; and America does not equal freedom," during an anti-US rally in Beirut, Lebanon, in September, 2012 (photo credit: AP/Hussein Malla)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The US Treasury Department has sanctioned the American financial accounts of four Hezbollah members.

Officials say the four men have plotted attacks far beyond the Shiite group’s base in Lebanon.

David Cohen, a Treasury undersecretary, said Thursday that new details about the militants show how broadly Hezbollah has spread its operations, especially in neighboring Middle-Eastern countries.

Officials said one of the four is a senior commander, who for 20 years has overseen Hezbollah operations in Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Yemen. Treasury officials said Khalil Harb served as Hezbollah’s military liaison between Iran and Palestinian-based groups.

Also sanctioned was Mohammed Kawtharani, a member of Hezbollah’s political council, who aided Shiite militants in Iraq and helped free a most-wanted terrorist there.