US sanctions on Hezbollah aim to punish Lebanon: Observers

The US has imposed new sanctions on Hezbollah, but observers say Lebanon as a whole will be affected by the punitive measures.

Earlier this week, the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed a new round of sanctions on Hezbollah targeting individuals and international organizations that do business with the resistance group.

Economist Louis Hobeika said he thought "it is difficult to punish Hezbollah without punishing all of Lebanon."

“No area fully belongs to Hezbollah. The southern suburb of Beirut is not confined to Hezbollah, so how will the sanctions apply here?” Hobeika told Arab News in remarks published Saturday.  

Political activist Ali Al-Amin, the director of Janoubia news website, said the outcome of the US decision could be "disastrous" for Lebanon.

“Is the purpose of the sanctions to embarrass the Lebanese government and state?" he wondered.  

SS