US sanctions Lebanese figures connected to Hezbollah, naming Frangieh and Qomati

What happened

L’Orient Today reports that the US Treasury Department added Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh and Hezbollah’s deputy head of the political bureau, Mahmoud Qomati, to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list on June 18. The designations are part of measures targeting individuals believed to support Hezbollah and undermine Lebanon’s peace and disarmament efforts.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. According to the Treasury, Frangieh used his alliance with Hezbollah to pursue political ambitions and received financial support from the group to challenge reformist and independent political figures during Lebanon’s parliamentary elections. The US accuses him of providing material and financial support to Hezbollah, a claim Frangieh denies, emphasizing his stance in support of Lebanon’s resistance against what he calls occupation by Israel.

Qomati is accused of coordinating the transfer of cash from Iran to Hezbollah and advocating for the group’s interests inside Lebanon. The Treasury says these sanctions were imposed under Executive Orders 13224 and 13886, aimed at curbing financial and logistical networks of Hezbollah. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Hezbollah must disarm to allow Lebanon to achieve security and prosperity.

Known from the source

• The US Treasury added Sleiman Frangieh and Mahmoud Qomati to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list on June 18, 2026.
• Frangieh is the leader of the Marada Movement and Qomati is Hezbollah's deputy head of the political bureau.
• The Treasury alleges these individuals hinder Lebanon’s peace process and Hezbollah’s disarmament.
• Washington imposed related sanctions under Executive Orders 13224 and 13886.
• Several companies linked to Hezbollah financial networks were also sanctioned.

What remains unclear

In addition to individuals, multiple companies linked to Hezbollah or its affiliates, including Globe Technology Providers (Lebanon) and al-Ahd Company for Trade and Investment (Syria), were sanctioned for their roles in financial networks supporting Hezbollah. The Treasury alleges that Hezbollah's financial operatives facilitated commercial ties with the Assad regime in Syria, further entrenching these networks.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify whether additional independent sources confirm the US Treasury accusations and specific roles of Frangieh and Qomati. Check for official Lebanese government or Hezbollah responses beyond Frangieh's X statement. Confirm the names and affiliations of all companies included in the sanctions list.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: L Orient Today. Open the source.