Overview
Ahmad Jalal Reda Abdallah is a U.S.-designated Lebanese businessman and financial facilitator for Hezbollah. Given that Abdallah has supported Hezbollah for decades, on May 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Abdallah as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for acting on the behalf of Hezbollah.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
Abdallah’s extensive working history with Hezbollah spans across different countries. The profits generated from Abdallah’s various business ventures have been transferred to Hezbollah. According to the Treasury Department, Abdallah coordinates business activities and budgets with sanctioned senior Hezbollah financial facilitators, including Muhammad Qasir and Muhammad Qasim al-Bazal. Qasir has ties to Iran and has facilitated financial disbursements from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) to Hezbollah. “Treasury Targets Iran’s Central Bank Governor and an Iraqi Bank Moving Millions of Dollars for IRGC-Qods Force,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 15, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0385. Ahmad cooperates not only with Hezbollah, but also the U.S. sanctioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Reportedly, the IRGC facilitates financial transfers for Abdallah’s businesses, many of which are based in Iraq.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
U.S. government sources believe Abdallah’s actions demonstrate the ways in which Hezbollah uses the cover of legitimate businesses to generate revenue to secretly fund the group and its terrorist activities. The businesses set up by Abdallah include medical equipment factories, insurance companies, real estate, and construction companies. Additionally, Abdallah delegated his senior employees and relatives to establish business front throughout the Middle East on behalf of Hezbollah. At one point, Abdallah redirected his business plans towards the food sector and set up the now U.S.-designated Al Moukhtar Products Co. SARL, as he believed the sector would not be a target for sanctions.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
Abdallah has also brokered meetings with senior businessmen and politicians in Lebanon on behalf of Hezbollah. He leveraged his skills in 2015, when he helped Hezbollah recover Adham Tabaja’s frozen funds after he was designated by the United States.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
In 2020, Abdallah, along with his brother Ali, coordinated to expand their business ventures in Iraq on behalf of Hezbollah. Among one of their new projects was an Iraqi bottling plant that they bought in March 2020. U.S. officials have contended that the purchase was an effort by Hezbollah to set up intelligence and commercial fronts in Iraq that would then be used as satellite locations for the IRGC or Hezbollah. However, local law enforcement carried out a raid on the bottling plant, and it was discovered that Abdallah was altering labels on medications brought in from Lebanon that were then sold on the black market to pharmacies.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
Given Abdallah’s extensive history working with Hezbollah, on May 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Abdallah as an SDN for acting on behalf of Hezbollah.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Hezbollah
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Militia, political party, social-service provider, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Iranian-sponsored, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, Shiite
- Position(s):
- Financier
Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.
History
United States
On May 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Ahmad Jalal Reda Abdallah as a Specially Designated National.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network’s Abuse of the Business Sector,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 19, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0796.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.