US State Department offers $10 mn for info on Hezbollah financial network

U.S. State Department Rewards for Justice Program has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Hezbollah.

"Mohammad Bazzi's been arrested, but Hezbollah is still collecting revenue through people like him. So you may be eligible for a reward if you submit information about Hezbollah's financial network," Rewards for Justice said in a tweet.

On their website, the Rewards for Justice accuses Hezbollah of using funds to support its activities throughout the world, including: "deployment of its militia members to Syria in support of the Assad dictatorship; alleged operations to conduct surveillance and gather intelligence in the United States; and enhanced military capabilities to the point that Hezbollah claims to possess precision-guided missiles."

"These terrorist operations are funded through Hezbollah’s international network of financial supporters and activities — financial enablers and infrastructure that form the group’s lifeblood," Rewards for Justice said.

A Lebanese and Belgian citizen considered a key financier of Hezbollah, Bazzi, 58, was arrested in Bucharest on Friday.

He had funneled millions of dollars to Hezbollah over the years, authorities said, and was labeled a "global terrorist" by the United States in 2018 when $10 million was offered for information about his whereabouts.

The Department of State said it is now offering rewards for information leading to the identification and disruption of significant sources of revenue for Hezbollah, major Hezbollah donors and financial facilitators, financial institutions and exchange houses knowingly facilitating Hezbollah transactions,

businesses and investments owned or controlled by Hezbollah, front companies engaged in international procurement of dual-use technology, and

criminal schemes involving Hezbollah members and supporters, who are financially benefitting the organization.