The UAE adds 21 Lebanese people and entities to its terror list over Hezbollah links, ordering asset freezes.
DUBAI: The UAE on Wednesday branded 21 Lebanese people and organisations as “terrorists”, ordering the freezing of their assets as it accused them of ties to Hezbollah, the official Emirati news agency reported.
The United Arab Emirates, home to a large Lebanese community, was the main target of Iranian missile and drone attacks during the regional war sparked by US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic.
Hezbollah is a Lebanese militant movement backed by Iran, which entered the Middle East war by launching attacks on Israel to avenge its killing of the Iranian supreme leader.
The WAM agency published the names of 16 Lebanese nationals and five organisations based in the Mediterranean country that have been put on a list of supporters of groups designated as terror organisations.
“The United Arab Emirates has designated 21 individuals and entities on its Local Terrorist List over their links to Lebanon’s Hezbollah,” the agency said.
“All regulatory authorities are required to identify any individuals or entities connected through financial or commercial relationships with those listed, and to take the necessary measures in line with the applicable laws in the UAE, including freezing assets within less than 24 hours.”
In March, Abu Dhabi announced the arrest of five members of what it said was a “terrorist network” linked to Hezbollah and its backer Iran aiming to threaten the UAE’s financial stability.
The Lebanese militant group denied having any presence inside the UAE “under any cover or commercial designation or otherwise”.
