Overview
Ali Zeaiter is a U.S.-designated Lebanese businessman who has provided material support for Hezbollah. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Zeaiter has used three different companies—Stars International Ltd., Aero Skyone Co. Limited, and Labico Sal Offshore—as fronts for conducting transactions on behalf of the Lebanese terror group.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Procurement Agents and Their Companies,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 5, 2015, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0255.aspx; “Treasury Sanctions Procurement Agents of Hizballah Front Company Based in Lebanon With Subsidiaries in the UAE and China,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2562.aspx.
Zeaiter was the general manager of Lebanon-based Stars International Ltd. when the United States designated the company in July 2014. Zeaiter allegedly used Stars International Ltd. to purchase engines, communications, and navigation equipment for use in unmanned aerial vehicles on behalf of Hezbollah.“Treasury Sanctions Procurement Agents of Hizballah Front Company Based in Lebanon With Subsidiaries in the UAE and China,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2562.aspx. Zeaiter allegedly relied on “false end-user certificates, mislabeled air waybills, and other fraudulent methods to avoid export restrictions and otherwise conceal the fact that Hizballah was the ultimate end-user or beneficiary of these goods.”“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Procurement Agents and Their Companies,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 5, 2015, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0255.aspx.
The United States designated China-based Aero Skyone Co. Limited and Labico Sal Offshore in November 2015 because they were owned or controlled by Zeaiter. According to the U.S. government, Zeaiter used Aero Skyone Co. Limited to acquire engines and other UAV equipment from suppliers in Europe and Asia for Hezbollah.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Procurement Agents and Their Companies,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 5, 2015, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0255.aspx.
On February 25, 2016, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also sanctioned Zeaiter, Aero Skyone Co. Limited, and Labico Sal Offshore.“Kingdom Imposes Sanctions on Individuals and Entities Linked to Hezbollah,” The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, February 25, 2016, https://www.saudiembassy.net/news/kingdom-imposes-sanctions-individuals-and-entities-linked-hezbollah.
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):
- Procurement agent
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
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) designated Ali Zeaiter a Specially Designated National on July 10, 2014.“Treasury Sanctions Procurement Agents of Hizballah Front Company Based in Lebanon With Subsidiaries in the UAE and China,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2562.aspx; “Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20140710.aspx.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control designated the Ali Zeaiter-controlled company Stars International Ltd. on July 10, 2014.“Treasury Sanctions Procurement Agents of Hizballah Front Company Based in Lebanon With Subsidiaries in the UAE and China,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2562.aspx; “Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20140710.aspx.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) designated the Ali Zeaiter-controlled companies Aero Skyone Co. Limited and Labico Sal Offshore under Executive Order 13224 on November 5, 2015.“Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Procurement Agents and Their Companies,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 5, 2015, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0255.aspx; “Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, July 10, 2014, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20140710.aspx.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia designated Ali Hussein Zeaiter and his companies Aero Skyone Co. Limited and Labico Sal Offshore under the Terrorism Crimes and Financing Laws and Royal Decree No. A/44 on February 25, 2016.“Kingdom Imposes Sanctions on Individuals and Entities Linked to Hezbollah,” The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, February 25, 2016, https://www.saudiembassy.net/news/kingdom-imposes-sanctions-individuals-and-entities-linked-hezbollah; “Kingdom extends Hezbollah sanctions,” Arab News, February 27, 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/news/887121.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
In Their Own Words:
We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].
Mar. 2023