Overview

Adel Mansour is the U.S.-sanctioned executive director of Hezbollah’s Al-Qard Al-Hassan (“The Good Loan,” AQAH), Hezbollah’s quasi-financial institution. The U.S. government accuses Mansour of shielding financial transactions with various Hezbollah institutions.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Accountants and Weapons Facilitator,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 1, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1135.

AQAH is a registered Lebanese non-profit that provides interest-free loans and operates savings accounts. Hezbollah has used AQAH to help Lebanese citizens access U.S. dollars while avoiding sanctions. Lebanese fearful of the impact of U.S. sanctions on Lebanese banks have sought out AQAH as an alternative.Bassem Mroue, “Amid crisis, Hezbollah ‘bank’ a lifeline for some Lebanese,” Associated Press, January 27, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/world-news-financial-markets-lebanon-9e4faa6cb08b59cc773ee08ed501aca1; “Twin Treasury Actions Take Aim at Hizballah’s Support Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 24, 2007, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp503.aspx. Created in 1982, the association reportedly had approximately 300,000 accounts as of 2021, all held by Hezbollah members or supporters. In November 2018, an account reportedly opened at the bank to transfer payments to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.George Eid, “Hezbollah takes aim at Lebanese finance,” Cyprus Mail, February 6, 2021, https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/02/06/hezbollah-lebanese-finance-banque-du-liban/. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, AQAH “illicitly moves funds through shell accounts and facilitators, exposing Lebanese financial institutions to possible sanctions.”“Treasury Targets Hizballah Finance Official and Shadow Bankers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 11, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0170.

According to Mansour, AQAH granted more than 200,000 loans in 2019. In an October 2019 interview, Mansour announced AQAH had launched new loans for small agricultural, industrial, and handicrafts projects, totaling a combined 80 million Lebanese pounds to be repaid over 60 months. Mansour also claimed the association’s deposits doubled in 2020.Hala Nasreddine, “Hezbollah’s ‘Bank:’ US Sanctions, Gold, and Black Market Rate,” Daraj, March 19, 2021, https://daraj.media/en/74923/. AQAH maintains an NGO license through Lebanon’s Ministry of Interior, which the U.S. government argues is a cover under which the organization hoards hard currency for Hezbollah. Designated Hezbollah-linked individuals and entities maintain bank accounts with AQAH to evade sanctions as accounts are re-registered in the names of senior AQAH officials.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Finance Official and Shadow Bankers in Lebanon,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 11, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0170.

The United States sanctioned AQAH in 2007 for being part of Hezbollah’s support network.>“Twin Treasury Actions Take Aim at Hizballah’s Support Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 24, 2007, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp503.aspx. In December 2019, Mansour denied anti-Hezbollah sanctions affected AQAH. In an interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated Hezbollah affiliated Al-Akhbar newspaper, he claimed Hezbollah had its own money, while AQAH had “no offshore accounts and no relationship with” international banks.Tony Badran and Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Hezbollah’s al-Qard al-Hasan and Lebanon’s Banking Sector,” Foundation for Defense of Democracies, May 11, 2021, https://www.fdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/fdd-memo-hezbollahs-al-qard-al-hasan-and-lebanons-banking-sector.pdf. In December 2020, in response to Mansour’s claims, the hacker group SpiderZ publicly posted a list of AQAH accounts belonging to Hezbollah members. SpiderZ accused AQAH “and its directors” of “lying to the people.”“Hackers Leak Documents Showing Hezbollah’s Alleged Link To Al-Qard Al-Hassan,” 961, January 5, 2021, https://www.the961.com/hackers-leak-documents-hezbollah-qard-al-hassan/; Tony Badran and Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Hezbollah’s al-Qard al-Hasan and Lebanon’s Banking Sector,” Foundation for Defense of Democracies, May 11, 2021, https://www.fdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/fdd-memo-hezbollahs-al-qard-al-hasan-and-lebanons-banking-sector.pdf. In April 2021, Lebanese judge Ghada Aoun announced an investigation into AQAH based on complaints AQAH had violated Lebanon’s Monetary and Credit Law.Souad Lazkani, “Judge Ghada Aoun Will Investigate Hezbollah’s Al-Qard Al-Hassan And Imports Of Iranian Medicines,” 961, April 24, 2021, https://www.the961.com/judge-aoun-investigate-hezbollah-qard-hassan/. On October 27, 2021, Saudi Arabia designated AQAH as a terrorist entity for its activities supporting Hezbollah.“Saudi Arabia classifies Lebanese association as terrorist entity for Hezbollah links,” Reuters, October 27, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-classifies-lebanese-association-terrorist-entity-links-hezbollah-2021-10-27/.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) levied financial sanctions on Mansour on December 1, 2022, labeling him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist because of his affiliation with AQAH. Mansour was also the subject of secondary sanctions under the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations.“Counter Terrorism Designations; North Korea Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 1, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221201. Treasury also sanctioned the Lebanese company Al-Khobara for Accounting, Auditing, and Studies, for being owned or directed by Mansour.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Accountants and Weapons Facilitator,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 1, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1135.

Treasury also sanctioned Hezbollah financier Naser Hasan Neser and the Lebanon-based Auditors for Accounting and Auditing (“Auditors”). Treasury sanctioned Auditors for Accounting and Auditing for being owned, controlled, or directed by Ibrahim Daher, who was designated in May 2021 for acting on behalf of Hezbollah as the chief of Hezbollah’s Central Finance Unit and a majority owner and managing partner of Auditors who has held a senior managerial function within the company for years. According to U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson, the public personas as financial professions and institutions used by Mansour, Neser, Auditors, and Daher “is just another way Hezbollah hides its abuse of the financial system to support its destabilizing agenda.”“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Accountants and Weapons Facilitator,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 1, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1135. In an interview with the Associated Press, Mansour called the designation “a medal of honor.”“US hits Hezbollah accountants with terrorism sanctions,” Associated Press, December 1, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/business-terrorism-militant-groups-financial-services-hezbollah-80181698f632c8aca88559f28be0f74a. He also claimed AQAH’s 2007 designation has not impacted its work. “US hits Hezbollah accountants with terrorism sanctions,” Associated Press, December 1, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/business-terrorism-militant-groups-financial-services-hezbollah-80181698f632c8aca88559f28be0f74a.

Also Known As

• Adel Mohamad Mansour“Counter Terrorism Designations; North Korea Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 1, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221201.
• Adil Mansour“Counter Terrorism Designations; North Korea Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 1, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221201.