U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed new sanctions targeting Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.
"Over the past year, we have levied the highest sanctions ever imposed on Hezbollah – in a single year, by far," Trump said at an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Hezbollah attack on a U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. peacemakers.
"Just a few moments ago, I signed legislation imposing even more hard-hitting sanctions on Hezbollah to further starve them of their funds. And they are starving for them," he said.
"We will target, disrupt and dismantle their operational and financing efforts, of which they have plenty.
"We will never forget what they did to our Marines in Beirut. No terrorist group other than al-Qaida has more American blood on its hands."
Speaking of Hezbollah's Iranian benefactors, Trump touted the reimposition of sanctions on Iran by his administration since withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers.
"Iran was instrumental in founding Hezbollah" and remains the group's "main patron today," Trump said.
Trump has promised even tougher action against Iran after most of the U.S. sanctions that were lifted under the nuclear accord are reinstated in November.
The latest legislation expands the list of parties that can be subjected to sanctions for doing business with Hezbollah.
