Iraq
People wave Lebanese Hezbollah flags in front of a portrait of Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah at a protest in Tehran condemning Israel’s military attack on Lebanon. AFP file photo
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States said on Friday it was “disappointed” by Iraq’s reversal of a decision to freeze the assets of Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi movement.
“We are disappointed by Iraq’s retraction of the decision to freeze assets of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Houthis,” a US State Department spokesperson told Rudaw.
Reports emerged on Thursday that Iraq’s Committee for Freezing Terrorist Assets had ordered a freeze on movable and immovable property linked to Hezbollah and Yemen’s Ansarullah, widely known as the Houthis. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani quickly described the listing as an “error” and ordered an investigation. The Iraqi presidency also distanced itself from the move, saying it played no role in the decision.
The Official Gazette had reported that the committee - which is affiliated with the Council of Ministers - issued the freeze based on “participation in committing a terrorist act.”
The State Department spokesperson said both groups pose “threats to the region and the world,” and said Washington will continue to “press Iraq to take concrete actions against these Iranian proxies, and Iran’s proxy militias in Iraq who threaten US and Iraqi interests.”
“All countries need to take actions to ensure their territories are not used by these and other Iranian terrorist proxies to train, raise money, acquire weapons, or conduct attacks,” the spokesperson added.
Diyar Kurda contributed to this article.
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