Kuwait freezes assets of Hezbollah financial arm and associates

Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday the imposition of sanctions against the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association (AQAH)—widely considered the financial arm of Hezbollah in Lebanon—as part of its efforts to combat terrorism financing, according to Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sanctions were approved by the country’s Committee for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, and they include AQAH, Hezbollah itself, and three individuals, among them Adel Mansour, a Lebanese national and AQAH’s designated leader. 

All assets belonging to the listed entities and individuals have been frozen, and businesses and financial institutions across Kuwait have been instructed to cut all ties with them.

The other two individuals sanctioned are of Somali and Tunisian nationality, respectively.

These measures build on Kuwait’s broader efforts to dismantle financial networks tied to Hezbollah. Since 2021, at least seven Lebanese nationals have been sanctioned for operating financial corridors between Lebanon and Kuwait allegedly used to channel funds to the Iran-backed group.

The U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC) first designated AQAH back in 2007, accusing it of facilitating Hezbollah’s economic activities under the guise of a charity. In July 2025, Lebanon’s Central Bank followed suit, issuing a formal ban on all interactions with AQAH and other Hezbollah-linked financial entities.

Further, in November 2024, Kuwaiti authorities arrested 18 individuals suspected of maintaining economic links with Hezbollah. Just months earlier, the U.S. had announced new sanctions targeting an alleged oil smuggling network operating between Kuwait and Lebanon to benefit Hezbollah's base in Haret Hreik.

Cutting Off Hezbollah’s Financial Lifelines

Kuwait’s latest decision reflects growing regional coordination to disrupt Hezbollah’s economic infrastructure, both in Lebanon and abroad. 

By freezing assets and isolating entities like AQAH, Gulf countries and their allies hope to undermine Hezbollah’s financial recovery efforts amid increasing scrutiny of its funding channels.

This move also signals tightened compliance with international counterterrorism mandates, particularly as regional tensions remain high and economic influence continues to play a central role in proxy conflicts.