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Obama to sign bill cutting off financing for Hezbollah

The US government is stepping up legal action against the Hezbollah terror organization, which has vowed to destroy Israel.  

By: JNS
Marco Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama is expected to sign into law a bill that cuts off financing for Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group.

“The president will sign this bill,” a senior administration official said, the Jerusalem Post reported. “For many years we have worked with Congress to intensify the pressure against the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and we look forward to working closely with them in implementing these new authorities.”

The Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015, which was originally co-sponsored by US Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), aims to sanction international financial institutions that knowingly engage in business with Hezbollah.

The bill passed the House of Representatives and Senate in November.

The bill says it seeks to “prevent Hezbollah’s global logistics and financial network from operating in order to curtail funding of its domestic and international activities,” and to “utilize diplomatic, legislative, and executive avenues to combat Hezbollah’s criminal activities in order to block that organization’s ability to fund its global terrorist activities.”

Hezbollah on Monday denounced the bill passed by the Senate, describing the decision as a “crime” against it and all liberals in the world.