US Offers $10 Million Reward For Information On Hezbollah Financier

 US State Department Rewards for Justice Program Post via its Official Twitter Account
US State Department Rewards for Justice Program Post via its Official Twitter Account
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US Offers $10 Million Reward For Information On Hezbollah Financier

 US State Department Rewards for Justice Program Post via its Official Twitter Account
US State Department Rewards for Justice Program Post via its Official Twitter Account

The United States on Monday offered a $10 million reward for information on a Hezbollah financier Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi for funneling money to the Lebanese party.

"Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi has funneled millions of dollars to the terrorist organization Hezbollah," a statement by the US State Department Rewards for Justice Program said on Twitter.

"If you have information on his financial operations, text us at the number below. You could be eligible for a reward," the statement added.

“Through his business activities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, he has provided millions of dollars in support to Hezbollah.”

In 2018, the US Department of the Treasury had listed Bazzi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

"Bazzi, who operates or transacts in or through Belgium, Lebanon, Iraq, and several countries in West Africa, is a key Hezbollah financier who has provided Hezbollah financial assistance for many years and has provided millions of dollars to Hezbollah generated from his business activities," the Treasury said in an official statement then.

It also designated the Global Trading Group NV (GTG) for being owned or controlled by Bazzi, in addition to several other entities including the Euro African Group LTD, Africa Middle East Investment Holding SAL (AME Investment) and Premier Investment Group SAL Offshore.

The US Department also named six other individuals accused of supporting Hezbollah including Moahmmad Jaafar Qasir, who is accused of helping Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards-Quds Force mask oil sales used to finance their allied terrorist groups.

RFJ said Qasir leads Hezbollah’s Unit 108, which transfers support form the IRGC-QF into Lebanon through Syria.

The list also includes Ali Qasir, who is Hezbollah’s representative in Iran and is a key facilitator of financial and commercial activities that benefit the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah. He is also the nephew of Hezbollah official Muhammad Qasir, with whom he works closely to facilitate financial activities between the IRGC-QF and the Lebanese party.

RFJ also lists the name of Muhammad Kawtharani, saying he is a senior leader of Hezbollah’s forces in Iraq and had assumed some of the political coordination of Iraqi-based, Iran-aligned paramilitary groups formerly organized by IRGC general Qasem Soleimani.

The list also names Adham Tabaja, a Hezbollah member who maintains direct ties with senior Hezbollah organizational elements, including the terrorist group’s operational component, Islamic Jihad.

Tabaja also holds properties in Lebanon on behalf of the group and is majority owner of the Lebanon-based real estate development and construction firm Al-Inmaa Group for Tourism Works.



Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
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Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday laid out plans for the post-war management of Gaza, saying the outgoing Biden administration would hand over the roadmap to President-elect Donald Trump's team to pick up if a ceasefire deal is reached.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington in his final days as the US top diplomat, Blinken said Washington envisioned a reformed Palestinian Authority leading Gaza and inviting international partners to help establish and run an interim administration for the enclave.

A security force would be formed from forces from partner nations and vetted Palestinian personnel, Blinken said during his speech, which was repeatedly interrupted by protesters who accused him of supporting genocide by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel denies.

He was speaking as negotiators met in Qatar hoping to finalize a plan to end the war in Gaza after 15 months of conflict that has upended the Middle East.

"For many months, we've been working intensely with our partners to develop a detailed post-conflict plan that would allow Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, prevent Hamas from filling back in, and provide for Gaza's governance, security and reconstruction," Blinken said.

Trump and his incoming team have not said whether they would implement the plan.

Blinken said a post-conflict plan and a "credible political horizon for Palestinians" was needed to ensure that Hamas does not re-emerge.

The United States had repeatedly warned Israel that Hamas could not be defeated by a military campaign alone, he said. "We assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new fighters as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war."

PROTESTERS

Blinken's remarks were interrupted three times by protesters, who echoed accusations that the Biden administration was complicit in crimes committed by Israel in the war.

Blinken has denied Israel's actions amount to genocide and says he has pushed Israel to do more to protect civilians and to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel launched its assault after Hamas-led fighters stormed across its borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's aerial and ground campaign has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, drawing accusations of genocide in a World Court case brought by South Africa and of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the allegations.

The assault has displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population and drawn the concern of the world’s main hunger monitor.

"You will forever be known as bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide," one protester shouted before being led out of the event.

Blinken remained calm, telling one heckler: "I respect your views. Please allow me to share mine," before resuming his remarks.

Blinken said US officials had debated "vigorously" the Biden administration's response to the war, a reference to a slew of resignations by officials in his State Department who have criticized the policy to continue providing arms and diplomatic cover to Israel.

Others felt Washington had held Israel back from inflicting greater damage on Iran and its proxies, he said.

"It is crucial to ask questions like these, which will be studied for years to come," he said. "I wish I could stand here today and tell you with certainty that we got every decision right. I cannot."