Hezbollah Lebanon announces arrival of second Iranian fuel-carrying ship
Hezbollah Lebanon announced the arrival of a second ship carrying gas oil from Iran. The Iranian vessel has gone to a port in Syria so that its cargo can be transferred to Lebanon. Lebanon’s prime minister considered the entry of Iran’s fuel shipment a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
Reuters news agency reported on the morning of Friday, September 24 (September 2 in Persian calendar) citing the Telegram channel of the “Al-Manar” television network that the second ship carrying gas oil to meet Lebanon’s fuel needs has arrived at the port of Baniyas in Syria.
According to this television network affiliated with Hezbollah Lebanon, the transfer of fuel from the Iranian ship will reduce “Lebanon’s crippling energy crisis.”
Reuters further reported in its dispatch that Najib Mikati, Lebanon’s prime minister, considered the entry of Iranian fuel shipments a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Syria and Iran are subject to U.S. sanctions.
Hezbollah Lebanon is also recognized by the United States as a terrorist group.
Hezbollah Lebanon, which was founded in 1982 by Iranian forces, had reported last month the arrival of the first fuel-carrying ship from Iran.
Reuters also reported a week earlier regarding the arrival of the first Iranian fuel shipment that the cargo is being transported by truck with armed escort by the Hezbollah group through Syria into Lebanese territory. This is being done in order to circumvent U.S. oil sanctions against Iran.
Lebanon’s energy minister stated that no authorization for fuel imports from Iran has been issued by his ministry.
Lebanon has been caught in a severe economic crisis for about two years. Half of the country’s six million population lives in poverty. The World Bank has described Lebanon’s situation as one of the most severe financial crises in the modern era. The value of the country’s national currency has collapsed by up to 90 percent and has dismantled the financial system.
Source: DW
