Overview
Fadi Hussein Serhan is a U.S.-designated Lebanese businessman accused of providing material support to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah through his Beirut-based electronics store, Vatech SARL.“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. According to the U.S. government, Serhan has used Vatech as a front to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles, equipment to build drones, and other technology from companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia on behalf of 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; Charles Hoskinson, “U.S. accuses Chinese firms of buying drones for Hezbollah,” Washington Examiner, November 5, 2015, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/us-accuses-chinese-firms-of-buying-drones-for-hezbollah.
According to the company website, Vatech is a “specialist broadcast engineering company” that sells cameras, drones, and other video recording and editing equipment.“About Vatech,” Vatech, http://www.vatech.com.lb/About.aspx. In a statement by Serhan’s lawyer, Hussein Saleh, “neither Vatech nor Serhan have any dealings with Hezbollah,” but Saleh also went on to say that Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity “Al-Manar is one of [Serhan’s] clients.”Philip Issa, “U.S.-sanctioned man innocent: lawyer,” The Daily Star, November 7, 2015, https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/the-daily-star-lebanon/20151107/281621009215246. Al-Manar was designated by the U.S. in 2004 for its ties to Hezbollah. Saleh justified Vatech’s sales to Al-Manar saying, “You can use a camera to film a TV program, or you can use it to film a battle. And Al-Manar makes up less than 10 percent of his business.”Philip Issa, “U.S.-sanctioned man innocent: lawyer,” The Daily Star, November 7, 2015, https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/the-daily-star-lebanon/20151107/281621009215246.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Serhan and Vatech SARL on November 5, 2015, for their ties to 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. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sanctioned Serhan and his company 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. As of February 27, 2016, Serhan remains in Lebanon.“Kingdom extends Hezbollah sanctions,” Arab News, February 27, 2016, http://www.arabnews.com/news/887121.
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 Fadi Hussein Serhan a Specially Designated National and sanctioned his company, Vatech SARL, 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, November 5, 2015, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20151105.aspx.
Saudi Arabia
On February 25, 2016, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia designated Fadi Hussein Serhan and his company, Vatech SARL, under the Terrorism Crimes and Financing Laws and Royal Decree No. A/44.“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.
Fact:
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