US Sanctions Hezbollah Brigades Over Hostage Crisis and Terror Financing

The United States announced sanctions on Thursday against the Iraqi "Hezbollah Brigades" and Lebanon's Hezbollah, the organizations responsible for the abduction of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov. The sanctions also target financing networks that support these groups, according to the U.S. State Department. The move aims to disrupt the funding mechanisms of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, which allegedly used commercial networks in Iraq, the UAE, Turkey, and Lebanon to circumvent sanctions and channel funds to Iran's proxies.

"Hezbollah Brigades," an Iran-backed Iraqi militia, is also implicated in Tsurkov's kidnapping in Baghdad in March 2023. Tsurkov was held captive for over two years. U.S. officials noted that the "Hezbollah Brigades" have recently intensified threats against American targets, including activity aimed at harming Jewish institutions within the United States. In June, an Iraqi national was arrested and charged with aiding the "Hezbollah Brigades" and gathering intelligence on U.S. targets, including Jewish institutions, and discussing potential attacks.

The sanctions also target networks used to transfer funds for Hezbollah and the Quds Force. U.S. authorities stated that individuals within these networks operated across multiple countries, exploiting businesses to move money and bypass Washington's restrictions. The State Department affirmed its continued commitment to dismantling the financial infrastructure of Iran-backed organizations, vowing to "continue to work to isolate Iran's terror proxies and sever their financial lifelines."