US sanctions two former Lebanese ministers for supporting Hezbollah

The United States has sanctioned two former Lebanese ministers for providing material support to Hezbollah, a political party and militant group that the US designates as a terrorist organization.

Former Lebanese officials Yusuf Finyanus, a former minister of transportation, and Ali Hassan Khalil, a minister of finance, aided the Iran-backed Hezbollah and contributed to systemic corruption in Lebanon, according to the State Department.

"While holding positions in previous Lebanese cabinets, Finyanus and Khalil directed political and economic favours to Hezbollah, including ensuring Hezbollah-owned companies won government contracts worth millions of dollars and moving money from government ministries to Hezbollah-associated institutions," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a Tuesday statement.

The Shiite group functions as a political party in Lebanon and holds seats in the country's parliament.

Decades of economic mismanagement and cronyism have sparked a major economic crisis in Lebanon. Members of the international community, including the International Monetary Fund, have been pushing for economic reforms there.

Last month, the country also experienced a political shake-up after its capital Beirut was devastated by a blast at its port that killed over 190 people and wounding some 6,000 others.

The explosion prompted then-prime minister Hassan Diab to resign on August 10. He was replaced by diplomat Mustapha Adib, who received support from both Hezbollah and the main Sunni-parliamentary bloc of former premier Saad Hariri.