Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued an administrative seizure order on Sunday against three Lebanese companies for allegedly providing raw materials to Hezbollah for its precision missile project.
The companies against which the order was issued are Al-Tufayli, Al-Moubayed and Barakat. The companies trade in machines, oils and ventilation systems that are needed for Hezbollah's production line. The order will allow the companies to be blacklisted in global financial systems and make it difficult for them to continue operating.
"Instead of helping and rehabilitating the citizens of Lebanon – Hezbollah continues to endanger the citizens of Lebanon and the entire country and sow chaos," said Gantz. "Hezbollah, with Iran's support, is undermining the ability to stabilize Lebanon. Israel will continue to reach out to the Lebanese people and offer humanitarian aid, while at the same time continuing to undermine attempts to introduce advanced weapons that will endanger its citizens, with an emphasis on promoting the Iranian precision project that works from the heart of Lebanon.”
#عاجل الهيئة الوطنية لمواجهة اقتصادية تصدر أمر مصادرة بحق ٣ شركات لبنانية مدنية لصلتها بحزب الله ومشروع الصواريخ الدقيقة. شركة الطفيلي التي تتاجر في المعدات والماكيناتشركة المبيض التي تتاجر بزيوت الماكينات والمعداتشركة بركات التي تتاجر في أنظمة التدفئة والتبريد pic.twitter.com/iA64JMIn4a
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) February 6, 2022
The IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichai Adraee tweeted further details about the companies targeted by the order on Sunday.
The Al-Tufayli Company trades in equipment and machinery and is located in Beirut. According to Adraee, Hezbollah buys cranes from the company to build bases and other structures for the terrorist organization. The manager of the company is named Ehab and the company has suppliers in Turkey, Holland and Kuwait.
The Al-Moubayed Company trades in oils for machinery and equipment and is also located in Beirut. The owner and manager of the company is Ali al-Moubayed, an engineer. The company has international ties, including with European companies.
The Barakat Company, located in Beirut, trades in heating and cooling systems that Hezbollah uses for its new locations. The owner was identified by Adraee as Nabil Ali Barakat. The company also has international ties.
Adraee warned Lebanese companies that Hezbollah often works covertly by purchasing materials from civilian Lebanese companies without disclosing the purpose of the purchase, stressing that Lebanese merchants must stay vigilant to avoid falling into the trap of the terrorist group.
The order is part of Gantz's directive to tighten economic pressure on the precision missile project and comes just months after Gantz signed a similar order against the Lebanese company Shreif Sanitary Co which was also providing equipment for Hezbollah's precision-guided missile project.
The seizure orders were signed following joint work of the IDF’s Intelligence Directorate and the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing in the Defense Ministry.
During the virtual INSS conference sponsored by Tel Aviv University last week, Gantz revealed that Israel has offered assistance to the Lebanese Army four times over the past year through UNIFIL.