Overview

Adel Diab is a U.S.-designated Lebanese businessman and Hezbollah financier. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) accuses Diab of being a Hezbollah member and Lebanese businessman who has used his business to raise funds for Hezbollah and facilitate Hezbollah’s activities.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Financiers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 18, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0558.

According to OFAC, Diab jointly owned assets with Ali Al Sha’ir, a U.S.-designated assistant to Hezbollah fundraiser Hasib Muhammad Hadwan. Hadwan is a U.S.-designated member of Hezbollah’s General Secretariat, who works with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Financiers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 18, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0558.

Along with Ali Mohamad Daoun and Jihad Salem Alame, Diab cofounded the Lebanon-based travel agency Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism. The Treasury Department designated all three individuals on January 18, 2022. Treasury designated Diab under Executive Order 13224 for “having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of,” Hezbollah.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Financiers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 18, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0558. Treasury also designated Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism under Executive Order 13224 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Daoun.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Financiers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 18, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0558. Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism organizes religious tours to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran.“Latest of US Blockade on Lebanon: Sanctions on Travel Agency,” Al Manar TV, January 19, 2022, https://english.almanar.com.lb/1517540. Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism is also subject to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations, which implement the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act (HIFPA) of 2015. Under HIFPA, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that, among other things, knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for Hezbollah or certain persons designated for their connection to Hezbollah.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Financiers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 18, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0558.

After Treasury designated Diab in January 2022, Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV accused the United States of enforcing a “blockade” on Lebanon, which is already suffering an economic crisis.“Latest of US Blockade on Lebanon: Sanctions on Travel Agency,” Al Manar TV, January 19, 2022, https://english.almanar.com.lb/1517540. Sheikh Ali Damush, deputy head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, has claimed the increasing economic pressure on Lebanon will not change the behavior of Hezbollah or its loyalists.“Latest of US Blockade on Lebanon: Sanctions on Travel Agency,” Al Manar TV, January 19, 2022, https://english.almanar.com.lb/1517540.