Lebanese man accused of moving money to Hamas killed in Beit Mery
A Lebanese man under U.S. sanctions for allegedly funnelling money from Iran to Palestinian militant group Hamas has been killed just outside Beirut, a security source told AFP on Wednesday.
The body of Mohammad Sarur was found Tuesday in a villa in the mountain town of Beit Mery, the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
He had been struck by more than five bullets and was found in possession of an undisclosed sum of money that the killers did not touch, the source added.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported late Tuesday that the body of a 57-year-old Lebanese man, identified by initials that correspond to Sarur's, had been found in an area near Beit Mery.
The security source confirmed to AFP that Sarur was subject to U.S. sanctions, and said he worked for financial institutions belonging to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Hamas ally.
In August 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against several people including Sarur, accusing them of funnelling "tens of millions of dollars" from the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards through Hezbollah in Lebanon "to Hamas for terrorist attacks originating from the Gaza Strip."
The Treasury said Sarur "served as a middle-man" between the Guards' Quds Force and Hamas "and worked with Hezbollah operatives to ensure funds were provided" to Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
"As of 2014, Sarur was identified as in charge of all money transfers" between the Quds Force and the Qassam Brigades, the Treasury added.
He also "has an extensive history working at Hezbollah's sanctioned bank, Bayt al-Mal," the Treasury said. Washington blacklisted Bayt al-Mal in 2006.
Last month, U.S. Treasury official Jesse Baker met with political and financial officials in Beirut, asking them to prevent funds from transiting through Lebanon to Hamas, media reports said at the time.
Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with the Israeli military since October 7 when an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel triggered war in Gaza.
10 April 2024, 15:36
01
"A gang of Syrians were stealing his car when Sarur was accidently ..."
10 April 2024, 16:03
44
It undoubtedly confirms that the Zionists have entered our country and are waiting for orders to carry out operations and kill people. The same can be said for Syria, which was infiltrated by the same agents who were physically present in Damascus across from the Iranian embassy to visually confirm the presence of the targets prior to the air strike.
10 April 2024, 20:34
41
Articule quand tu pètes mon pauvre pathétique ireport. So sad ((((
11 April 2024, 05:11
40
Citizen I see you don’t understand English. It must be the lack of education like many of your kind. Let me try to make it more simple for you. You= Iranian loser. Your opinion= used toilet paper. Writing you= waste of time. Now go play with yourself little boy like you do everyday. Good luck iranian dude.
11 April 2024, 14:53
12
If you are ashamed to take antidepressants why not try therapy for anger management?
11 April 2024, 19:55
21
Iranian dude. You still don’t understand that your opinion is insignificant. Must be the inbred part. You did tell me your mom and dad are first cousins. Je compatis mon petit. Good luck and God bless.
12 April 2024, 01:45
11
Why would I do so? We already know about them. However, this time it is considerably more hazardous, and I do not believe the Syrians are responsible for the country's destabilization. It is clearly in the Zionists' best interests to generate upheaval in Lebanon, as you know, Nantanyahu is desperate. The killing of Haniyeh's family on the Eid's day is an act of despair and weakness. Israel suffered public relations setbacks, including the Gaza war on children which turned out to be a genocide.
11 April 2024, 02:58
13
ذكرت "القناة 12" الإسرائيلية، أنّ التقديرات تشير إلى أنّ "الموساد يقف وراء مقتل المواطن اللبناني محمد سرور، نظراً لطبيعة عمله لصالح إيران، وكذلك الطريقة التي قُتل بها".
