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The United States imposed new sanctions on what it described as a “money laundering network and circumventing sanctions”, which includes 52 people and companies that helped Lebanese businessman Nazem Saeed Ahmed, whom Washington accuses of being a financier of “Hezbollah”. The British government also imposed sanctions on Ahmed and prevented dealings with him.

And the US State Department said in a statement that, in coordination with the Treasury Department, it took, yesterday (Wednesday), measures targeting the international network that facilitates payment, shipping and delivery of money, works of art and luxury goods, in favor of Nazim Saeed Ahmed, “the financier of Hezbollah and the global terrorist”, who is listed on Her sanctions list since 2019.

The statement added that the Treasury Department is including this network on the sanctions list, and repeatedly announcing its offer of a reward of up to $10 million in exchange for information on Hezbollah’s financial mechanisms, including the activities of Nazem Ahmed.

The statement added that the network includes dozens of people and companies, and they are distributed in several countries, including Lebanon, South Africa, Britain and Belgium.

The head of the “Marada Movement,” Suleiman Franjieh, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Republic from the rostrum of the Maronite Patriarchate, stressing that he would exercise the powers of the president with “responsibility, not political maliciousness.”

Franjieh flirted with the opponents of his candidacy, and he also tried to provide assurances to the Arab countries by announcing his refusal to “interfer with any Arab country.” He also expressed his readiness for dialogue with everyone, calling for joining the settlement train in the region. On the other hand, he announced that “with a discussion of a defensive strategy (for Hezbollah’s weapons) that is in the interest of Lebanon and removes everyone’s concerns.”

The positions of Franjieh, the candidate of the “Shiite duo” (“Hezbollah” and the “Amal” movement) for the presidency, came after his meeting with the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, in what seemed like guarantees and reassurances to his opponents. Franjieh affirmed, “We do not accept aggression against any Arab country, and we do not have any hostile view of any country, and we were created in an Arab home.”

And about his recent visit to France, where he met officials, and the information indicated that he was asked to provide guarantees, Franjieh said: “I visited Paris and answered the questions of the French and they are in contact with Saudi Arabia, and it is obvious that we proceed with reforms and support the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and we support any government.” It has its own reform programme. He said, “I am ready for dialogue with everyone, and we must join the settlement train in the region.”

Regarding his relationship with President Bashar al-Assad and “Hezbollah,” he said that he harnesses his relationship with the Syrian president and Hezbollah for the benefit of the country, pointing out that “the issue of the displaced Syrians has been put on the right track, and dealing with it in a proper way will lead to their return to Syria.”

Franjieh questioned the position of some political parties, saying, “What we see in the media does not conform to the truth and is pivotal… Settlements have begun in the region, the opponents will reconcile, and the game has changed, and this matter will be reflected in Lebanon, and I invite all politicians to read where the situation is heading.”

And he stressed his adherence to the powers of the presidency, saying: “I do not give up one percent of the powers of the president of the republic, but I exercise them with responsibility, not political maliciousness, and we are ready for dialogue with everyone who has any concerns, and I have no embarrassment towards anyone, and refusing dialogue is a problem.”

He pointed out that his goal is not power, “but rather reaching the presidency of the republic to leave a mark in the country, and we must be present within the settlement train in the region, not outside it, unlike what happened in the years 1989-1990 when some of them remained outside the settlement and the Christians paid the price.”

The US Embassy in Beirut commemorates the 40th anniversary of the bombing of its building

Washington offers $7 million to anyone who provides information about a leader in Hezbollah.

Beirut: «Asharq Al-Awsat»

Lebanon

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The Lebanese authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle counterfeit currency to Iraq and Turkey, and dismantled a factory for printing counterfeit banknotes in the Bekaa Valley, where four suspects were arrested, in the latest campaign to pursue perpetrators of violations and crimes and arrest wanted persons.

And in open shops on the international road “Rayak – Baalbek”, at the entrance to the town of Brital, a large motorized force from the Lebanese army, with the support of a force from the Bekaa Intelligence, tightened the cordon on a gang of currency counterfeiters, on Saturday. Security sources described to Asharq Al-Awsat the gang as “the largest for currency counterfeiting,” adding that the group involved in currency counterfeiting “works day and night to print Arab coins, and American coins in the fifty and one hundred dollar denominations, and its main shipping destination is Iraq, with large quantities shipped.” Few towards Turkey and other Arab countries. The army worked to open a hole in the walls of the shops on the international road so that it could withdraw and confiscate the printing machines, which appeared huge, using a crane to pull them from their place. The confiscated machines were transferred to a security center, and the army arrested four wanted Lebanese who were involved in printing counterfeit currency.

The Lebanese Army Command confirmed in a statement that the army units seized a factory in Brital containing machines and equipment for counterfeiting currency, 3 military weapons, hunting rifles, a quantity of drugs, ammunition and counterfeit currency.

The security sources said that the confiscated machines are designed to print foreign currencies such as the US dollar, the euro and the Iraqi dinar, pointing to the seizure of banknotes that were intended for smuggling. The confiscated amount is estimated at millions of banknotes of different currencies packed on wooden pallets and packages prepared for smuggling to some Arab countries and Turkey. Security sources said that the largest amount of counterfeit currency was intended for smuggling towards Iraq.

The official authorities carry out large-scale security campaigns in eastern Lebanon, to pursue drug dealers, smuggling and theft activities, and to arrest wanted persons and those accused of crimes and shootings, and all security agencies, including the Army Intelligence Directorate, the Internal Security Forces, the General Security and the State Security, participate in them.