Overview
- Undersecretary John Hurley says Iran funneled about $1 billion to Hezbollah this year despite extensive Western sanctions.
- Washington last week sanctioned two individuals accused of using money-exchange networks to route funds to the Lebanese group.
- Hurley is touring Turkey, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Israel to press governments and banks to disrupt covert finance channels.
- The U.S. is urging Beirut to enforce disarmament of non-state militias; Hezbollah rejects full disarmament but has not blocked some Lebanese army seizures in the south.
- Israel reports Hezbollah is trying to rebuild capabilities and carried out heavy airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite a year-old ceasefire.