With new sanctions UK cracks down on Al-Qard-Al-Hassan

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-linked association and one of its main financial arms.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the measure as part of a broader package targeting Iran and Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Operating outside Lebanon’s traditional banking system, Al-Qard Al-Hassan provides Islamic loans and accepts gold and jewelry as collateral. It has been under U.S. sanctions since 2007 over accusations of managing Hezbollah’s financial activities.

The British sanctions follow Israeli strikes on the association’s branches in Lebanon. On the same day, London also banned imports from Israeli settlements and restricted services linked to their expansion.

Britain is thus using sanctions and trade measures to pressure both Hezbollah’s financial network and settlement-related economic activity.