Hezbollah seeks ‘to attack and storm banks’ in Lebanon – report
The bank source said “any street protest would create concern and confusion among the people," adding “Banks play no role in the sanctions.”
By BENJAMIN WEINTHALLEBANON’S HEZBOLLAH leader Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters via a screen during a rally marking Jerusalem Day in Maroun Al-Ras village, near the border with Israel.(photo credit: REUTERS)Hezbollah is threatening violence against banks in Lebanon due to US sanctions that seek to stop terrorists from being financed, a bank source told Asharq al-Awsat, an Arabic international newspaper based in London.Hezbollah’s threat endangers security and “gives its supporters the green light to attack and storm banks,” according to the source.According to Asharq al-Awsat, “the threat had alarmed observers, who expressed their concern that Iran may seize control of Lebanon’s financial stability in order to draw Washington’s attention and lure it to the negotiations table.”The bank source added “any street protest would create concern and confusion among the people,” adding that “Banks play no role in the sanctions.”The Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar said the Shi’ite “party leadership has outlined several steps, including street protests to confront the banks.”Al-Akhbar reported that Hezbollah will not remain silent when Lebanese banks comply with US sanctions and that Hezbollah passed a decision to target the banks that adhere to US sanctions, but it has not revealed its plan.The US has ramped up its sanctions that target Hezbollah lawmakers and a bank involved in terrorist financing. In July, the Treasury Department sanctioned Hezbollah MPs Amin Sherri and Mohammad Raad. In August, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Jammal Trust Bank for aiding Hezbollah’s movement. A month later, the bank was forced to shut down.“Despite its sound financial situation... and its full compliance with banking regulations, the [bank] was forced to take the decision to liquidate itself in full coordination with the central bank,” Jammal Trust Bank said in September.
