The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Lebanon-based Green Without Borders and its leader, Zuhair Subhi Nahla, for providing support and cover for Hizballah’s operations in southern Lebanon under the guise of environmental activism, according to an Aug. 16 news release. 

"The United States rejects Hizballah’s cynical efforts to cloak its destabilizing terrorist activities with false environmentalism," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in the release. "We will continue to support the many Lebanese civil society groups protecting Lebanon’s unique and sensitive natural environment while also relentlessly pursuing Hizballah and their support networks."

Green Without Borders was established in 2013 and has served as a cover for Hizballah's activities along the Blue Line border between Lebanon and Israel, impeding peacekeepers' monitoring efforts and engaging in weapons training and other activities, the release reported.

This deceptive facade masked their involvement in activities that undermine peacekeeping efforts and involve weapons training. The OFAC designation of both Green Without Borders and its leader is in accordance with Executive Order 13224, aimed at combating terrorism and those who aid and abet it, the release said. 

Despite its claims of environmental protection, Green Without Borders has served as a front for Hizballah's activities, with numerous outposts along the Blue Line manned by Hizballah operatives. These installations have hindered the work of United Nations peacekeepers and have been used for weapons training and storage, according to the release.

Nahla, the leader of Green Without Borders, has been singled out for his pivotal role in these activities. While he has tried to distance himself from Hizballah, his affiliation with the group has been publicly acknowledged, the release reported. 

The OFAC's designation blocks all property and interests in property associated with these individuals and entities that are within U.S. jurisdiction or under the control of U.S. persons. Transactions involving the designated individuals and entities could trigger secondary sanctions under E.O. 13224. OFAC retains the authority to impose strict conditions on foreign financial institutions that engage in significant transactions on behalf of designated individuals or entities, the release said.

For those seeking information about the process to request removal from an OFAC list, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, OFAC provides guidance in its Frequently Asked Questions. Detailed information on how to submit such requests can be accessed through the OFAC sanctions list, according to the release.