U.S. sanctions Hezbollah, Syria's state-run oil company Sytrol

Date: 10/08/2012      Time: 08:33:00 PM

The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday designated sanctions against Hezbollah for playing "active, integral role" in supporting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's regime and Syria's state-run oil company Sytrol for its oil sales to Iran. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. since 1995, has directly trained Syrian government personnel inside the country and has facilitated the training of Syrian forces with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Treasury of Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen told reporters in a briefing. "For years the Assad regime has provided safe haven to Hezbollah training camps and routed weapons and money in many cases from Iran to Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. Hezbollah is now paying its debt to Assad by providing training, advice and extensive logistical support to the government of Syria. Since the start of the unrest in Syria, Hezbollah has directly trained Syrian government personnel inside Syria and facilitated the training of Syrian forces by Iran's al Quds force," said Cohen, adding that Hezbollah has also played a "substantial role" in efforts to expel Syrian opposition forces from areas within Syria. The State Department expressed its increasing concern about Hezbollah's activity world-wide. "Hezbollah and Iran will both maintain a heightened level of terrorist activity and operations in the near future. We assess that Hezbollah could attack in Europe and or elsewhere with little or no warning," said Ambassador Daniel Benjamin Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the State department. The designation comes 17 months into the armed conflict between Syria protesters and government soldiers. The State Department also announced action against Syria's state-run oil company Sytrol for conducting business with Iran's energy sector that allows Iran to continue developing its nuclear program while providing the Syrian government with resources to oppress its own people. "The United States stands resolutely against sales of refined petroleum product to Iran and will employ all available measures to bring it to a halt. Moreover, any business that continues to irresponsibly support Iran's energy sector or helps facilitate either nation's efforts to evade U.S. sanctions will face serious consequences," the State department said in a statement.