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.