WASHINGTON — The US Treasury Department on Tuesday imposed new sanctions on Hezbollah operatives based in South America and Lebanon, including one linked to the 1994 Jewish community center bombing in Argentina.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Amer Mohamed Akil Rada, describing him as one of the operational members behind the attack on the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association building, where 85 people were killed in 1994. Argentina has blamed Hezbollah and its backer Iran for the suicide bombing, both of which deny responsibility.
US officials say Rada, who currently lives in Lebanon after running Hezbollah operations in South America for more than a decade, has coordinated the activities of various commercial enterprises for the Shiite militant group, including the exportation of charcoal from Colombia to Lebanon.
Treasury also alleged Rada worked in close coordination with US-designated Hezbollah operative Salman Raouf Salman to case targets around South America. Amer was also linked to the 1992 Israeli Embassy bombing in Buenos Aires that killed 29 people.
