The U.S. Sanctions 'Green Without Borders,' a Cover Organization for Hezbollah's 'Terrorist Activities'

On Wednesday, the U.S. sanctioned a Lebanese environmental organization called 'Green Without Borders,' accusing it of being an arm of Hezbollah. The head of the organization was also sanctioned. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that this organization is essentially a cover group for 'Hezbollah's terrorist activities.' Miller mentioned that the centers of 'Green Without Borders' have been used to conduct weapons training for Hezbollah, support Hezbollah's activities along the southern Lebanon border with Israel, and impede the movement of United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. The UN forces, known as UNIFIL, are tasked with securing the border between Lebanon and Israel under the direction of the UN Security Council. Experts say that Hezbollah effectively prevents UN peacekeepers from accessing these areas under the guise of 'Green Without Borders.' On Tuesday, August 15, Jonathan Conricus, a former international spokesperson for the Israeli army, described the current situation along the Lebanon-Israel border and the potential for conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, stating: 'The characteristics of today's situation, Hezbollah's hostile behaviors along the border, various provocative actions across the 'Blue Line' (marked by blue barrels), and the increasing belligerent statements by Nasrallah against Israel are evident.' He noted that the likelihood of conflict has somewhat increased in recent months, especially following the bombing at the Majd al-Zarqa intersection (about 60 kilometers south of the Lebanon border), but it seems both sides are still cautious to prevent the situation from escalating into open conflict. Hezbollah continues to develop precision-guided munitions in the Beirut and Baalbek areas (northeast of Beirut), which could destabilize the region. The militant group Hezbollah, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel, is considered by experts to be the most heavily armed militia in the world, receiving substantial support from the Islamic Republic. According to some estimates, the Islamic Republic spends about $700 million annually on Hezbollah. The provision of this support, along with similar assistance to other militant groups, is one of the reasons the U.S. has placed Iran at the top of its list of four 'state sponsors of terrorism' in the world. Recently, a group of American representatives visited an illegal Hezbollah tunnel inside Israeli territory. The visit of American lawmakers to the 'Hezbollah Tunnel' in Israel; Voice of America's report on the situation at the Lebanon border raised concerns among experts about the activities of 19 Iranian proxy groups around Israel.