By Maria Maalouf
In a significant move against Iran-backed terrorism, the Trump Administration has imposed new sanctions targeting Hezbollah operatives embedded within Lebanon’s political system. Lebanese-American activist Tom Harb praised the action in a detailed statement on X, thanking President Donald Trump and the administration for the strong measures. He gave special recognition to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for targeting nine Hezbollah-aligned individuals, including four sitting deputies in the Lebanese Parliament who are actively undermining democracy and blocking efforts toward disarmament.
Harb highlighted the deep infiltration of Hezbollah into Lebanese institutions. He noted that Nabih Berri, the Speaker of Parliament and head of the Amal Movement, collaborates closely with Hezbollah and provides critical political cover for the terrorist group. Combined with Hezbollah elements embedded inside Lebanon’s army and security institutions, this creates a direct threat to Lebanese sovereignty, according to Harb.
The activist called for decisive internal reforms in Lebanon. He argued that the leadership of the Lebanese Armed Forces must be purged and replaced with true patriots loyal to Lebanon rather than Iran’s proxy. Only then, he stated, can the military institution be cleaned, a clear plan put forward to dismantle Hezbollah and Lebanon set on the path to freedom. This would ultimately contribute to real peace in the region. Harb framed the sanctions as consistent with an America First foreign policy. He emphasized that confronting terrorism head-on while supporting genuine peace serves both American interests and the stability of the Middle East. The statement tagged the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, underscoring hopes for continued American diplomatic engagement on this issue.
These latest sanctions reflect a targeted approach against Hezbollah’s political and financial networks rather than solely its military capabilities. Hezbollah, long designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has maintained a powerful parallel structure that has undermined the Lebanese state for decades, contributing to the country’s ongoing political paralysis and economic crisis. The Trump Administration’s actions signal a firm stance against Iranian influence through its regional proxies.
