Date: May 18, 2018 Source: The Daily Star U.S. sanctions Hezbollah, still supports LAF Joseph Haboush| The Daily Star BEIRUT: A Pentagon source Thursday confirmed Washington will maintain its support for the Lebanese Army and state institutions even after Hezbollah cemented its place in Lebanon’s legislature in the May 6 parliamentary elections. Ahead of elections, reports emerged that the Pentagon informed Congress of $90 million in military aid to Lebanon and its Army. Asked whether Hezbollah’s electoral success would have any effect on the announcement or aid given to the Army, Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich told The Daily Star the U.S. “remains committed to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, and security through its state institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces.” Nevertheless, the response is a positive sign for Beirut, in light of three new rounds of sanctions on Iran and Hezbollah since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal earlier this month. And it could be an indicator his administration, however anti-Iran it may be, is drawing a line between Hezbollah and Lebanon. The U.S. was notably specific in its newest sanctions, and did not target anyone in the Lebanese government or executive body. The president of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, Joseph Torbey, previously said any name designated by the U.S. Treasury as being sanctioned would immediately be blacklisted in Lebanon. However, Torbey said the one exception would be if the individual were part of the executive body. Lebanese politicians and bankers have shuttled back and forth to Washington D.C. in recent months to ensure any new sanctions are specific with names so as not to affect the country’s banking sector or economy. Mohammad Qassir, born Feb. 12, 1967 according to a U.S. Treasury statement, was listed Tuesday as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” for acting as “a critical conduit for financial disbursements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) to Hezbollah.” One day later, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, his deputy Naim Qassem, and a number of high-ranking Hezbollah officials were also sanctioned in a joint U.S.-Gulf move. Qassir’s whereabouts remain unknown, with Rebarich commenting: “It would not be appropriate for the department to comment publicly regarding the whereabouts of a sanctioned individual.” This week’s announcements may not be of great harm to the Iranian-proxy in Lebanon, but locals will be relieved that the U.S. continues to support the country’s Army – which protects its borders. The Army’s most recent triumph was defeating Daesh (ISIS) and pushing any fighters remaining in Lebanon back into Syria in summer last year. A statement released on May 11, 2018, on the U.S. State Department’s website said the “U.S. assistance for the LAF is a key component of our policy to reinforce Lebanon’s sovereignty and secure its borders, counter internal threats, and build up its legitimate state institutions.” The U.S. is the Army’s biggest donor and has provided Lebanon with nearly $1.7 billion in military assistance since 2006 and another $160 million to the Internal Security Forces. The State Department statement added the “investment in the LAF has paid significant dividends for U.S. interests in the Middle East.” Rebarich said the departments of State and Defense “regularly inform Congress on security assistance to Lebanon.” As for critics who claim that foreign military aid could potentially fall into the hands of Hezbollah – or organizations other than the Lebanese Army – the State Department statement said the LAF “continues to successfully coordinate with the U.S. government to ensure compliance with all its security requirements and remains a valued partner in the fight against ISIS and other violent extremists.”