US sanctions two former Lebanese ministers for corruption and aiding Hezbollah

Former Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil has been sanctioned by the US under counter-terrorism measures. Reuters

The US government sanctioned former Lebanese ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Yousef Fenyanous on Tuesday for corruption and “facilitating Hezbollah’s agenda".

The sanctions announced by the Treasury Department target Mr Fenyanous, a former transport minister, and Mr Khalil, a former minister of finance under the “counterterrorism authority”.

US officials said that there are allegations of corruption involving both figures and urged that they be excluded from the formation of a new government, with the country vowing to isolate Hezbollah's pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim militia and political party.

They stopped short of targeting any current officials in the nation torn by economic crisis and the aftermath of a deadly explosion in Beirut.

US officials say the two former ministers exemplify "the old corrupt way of doing business" in Lebanon.

"Corruption has run rampant in Lebanon, and Hezbollah has exploited the political system to spread its malign influence," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

"The United States stands with the people of Lebanon in their calls for reform and will continue to use its authorities to target those who oppress and exploit them," he said.

The country ranks 138th out of 180 nations under Transparency International corruption index.