Overview
Ali Mohamad Daoun is a U.S.-designated Lebanese national and Hezbollah official. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Daoun oversees Hezbollah activities in parts of Lebanon.“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 Adel Diab and Jihad Salem Alame, Daoun 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 Daoun 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. Daoun and Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism are 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 Daoun 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.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Hezbollah
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Militia, political party, social-service provider, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Iranian-sponsored, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, Shiite
- Position(s):
- Financier
Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.
United States
The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Ali Mohamad Daoun as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on January 18, 2022.“SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS LIST UPDATE,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 18, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220118.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
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