A case that gives new meaning to “guns and butter.” From AFP: “US targets Hezbollah fundraising arm”
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US government blacklisted a fundraising arm of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah which it said makes no pretence of hiding the deadly aim of its activities.
The Treasury froze any US assets held by the Islamic Resistance Support Organization (IRSO), and banned any transactions with the outfit by US citizens.
The department released fundraising literature from the group that gave donors the choice to direct their funds to buy rockets and bullets, or to aid children and build homes.
“While some terrorist-supporting charities try to obscure their support for violence, IRSO makes no attempt to hide its true colors,” said Stuart Levey, the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
“IRSO’s fundraising materials present donors with the option of sending funds to equip Hezbollah fighters or to purchase rockets that Hezbollah uses to target civilian populations,” he said.
“IRSO works to inflict suffering rather than alleviate it.”
The Treasury said the fundraising group operates out of Beirut and is also known as the Islamic Resistance Support Association or Hayat al-Dam Lil-Muqawama al-Islamiya.