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US, Saudi add Hezbollah financiers to terror list

WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- The US Treasury revealed Thursday that in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, it has designated as terrorists two Hezbollah financiers: Mohammad Al-Mukhtar Kallas, and Hasan Jamal-al-Din, both of whom carry Lebanese passports.
The individuals have been listed along with Global Cleaners S.A.R.L., a company headed by US and Saudi Arabian-designated Hezbollah member and financier Adham Husayn Tabaja, the Treasury said in a statement.
"Today's joint action with Saudi Arabia underscores the strength of US and Saudi cooperation in disrupting Hezbollah's worldwide commercial and financial infrastructure," Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin said.
"Hezbollah continues to plan, coordinate and execute terrorist attacks around the world, and Treasury will continue to aggressively target Hezbollah and those supporting its terrorist activities," he added.
Saudi Arabia designated the individuals under its Law of Terrorism Crimes and Financing and Royal Decree A/44, and their assets have been frozen, the statement showed.
Meanwhile the Treasury also added two senior Hezbollah operatives to its list, citing their roles in planning terrorist attacks.
The individuals were identified as Yosef Ayad, who carries a passport from the Philippines, and Mohammad Ghaleb Hamdar, who carries a passport from Sierra Leone.
The Department of State, which is authorized to designate also announced its own addition to the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list: Haytham Ali Tabataba'i, also known as Abu Ali Al-Tabataba'i, described as a " Hezbollah commander from Beirut, Lebanon who has commanded Hezbollah's special forces." He is currently reported to be in Yemen.
Both departments pursue these designations in cooperation with the Department of Justice.
"As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of those designated today subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them," the Treasury said. (end) ys.msa