US hits Hezbollah agents in West Africa with sanctions
11 Jun 201319:12 PM
US hits Hezbollah agents in West Africa with sanctions
The United States announced sanctions against four Lebanese supporters of Hezbollah on Tuesday, alleging they were working to extend the group's influence in West Africa.

The US Treasury Department named the four as responsible for Hezbollah's activities in Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Gambia: Ali Ibrahim al-Watfa, Abbas Loutfe Fawaz, Ali Ahmad Chehade, and Hicham Nmer Khanafer, respectively.

The operatives "have organized fund-raising efforts, recruited members, and in some cases styled themselves as ambassadors of Hezbollah's Foreign Relations Department," the Treasury said in a statement.

The sanctions freeze any assets they have on US soil and ban Americans and US businesses from any transactions with them.