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Action Targets Company’s Owners and Several Managers Responsible for Supporting Hizballah’s Global Procurement Operations WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of the Treasury targeted a key Hizballah procurement network today by designating brothers Kamel and Issam Mohamad Amhaz, their consumer electronics business Stars Group Holding based in Beirut, Lebanon, its subsidiaries, and certain managers and individuals who support their illicit activities. Today’s actions were taken pursuant to E.O. 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists, or acts of terrorism. As a result of today’s action, all assets of those designated today that are based in the United States or in control by U.S. persons are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Today’s action highlights Hizballah’s continued reliance on companies for material support, including the procurement of material used to enhance the group’s military capabilities. Hizballah has used the Stars Group Holding network to covertly purchase sophisticated electronics and other technology from suppliers across the world. Items obtained by Hizballah using the Stars Group Holding network have directly supported the group’s military capabilities, including the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have been used most recently to support Hizballah’s military activities in Syria and to conduct surveillance operations in Israel. “With disturbing reach far beyond Lebanon, Hizballah’s extensive procurement networks exploit the international financial system to enhance its military capabilities in Syria and its terrorist activities worldwide,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “This global terrorist activity and expanding criminal network belie Hizballah’s claimed purpose as a national liberation movement. It is critical that countries throughout the world work together to combat this dangerous organization and sever it from sources of revenue and support.” Beirut-based Stars Group Holding is owned and managed by President and Chief Executive Officer Kamel Mohamad Amhaz and company Chairman Issam Mohamad Amhaz. In addition to the company’s Lebanon-based businesses, Treasury-designated Stars Group Holding maintains subsidiaries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Unique Stars Mobile Phones LLC, and Guangzhou, China, Stars International Ltd. Today’s action also targets Ayman Ibrahim, who serves as the General Manager of Unique Stars Mobile Phones LLC, and Ali Zeaiter who is the General Manager of Stars International Ltd. Over the past three years, Stars Group Holding, Kamel Mohamad Amhaz, Issam Mohamad Amhaz, Ayman Ibrahim, and Ali Zeaiter have used these China- and UAE-based subsidiaries to acquire a range of engines, communications, electronics, and navigation equipment from companies in the United States, Asia, Canada, and Europe for Hizballah’s use in UAVs and for other projects. These individuals and entities have relied on false end-user certificates, mislabeled air waybills, and other fraudulent methods to avoid export restrictions and otherwise conceal Hizballah as the ultimate end-user or beneficiary of these goods. In addition to the Stars Group Holding owners, managers, and companies described above, Treasury is also designating Hanna Elias Khalifeh, a Hizballah member and Lebanese businessman who has worked directly with Stars Group Holding network managers to facilitate these procurement activities on behalf of Hizballah. The following Beirut-based subsidiaries of Stars Group Holding were also designated by Treasury today: Stars Communications Ltd., Teleserve Plus Sal, Stars Communications Offshore Sal, and Fastlink SARL. Identifying Information Individual 1:** KAMEL MOHAMAD AMHAZ** AKA: Kamel Mohamed Amhaz AKA: Kamel Amhaz AKA: Kamel Al-Amhaz AKA: Kamil Amhaz DOB: 04 August 1973 Nationality: Lebanon Passport: RL2244333, Lebanon ID No: 61 Niha El-Mehfara Address 1: 5th Floor, Ghadir Building, Kods Street, Haret Hreik (Baabda), Lebanon Address 2: Ghadir, 5th Floor, Safarat, Bir Hassan, Jenah, Lebanon Address 3: Ghadir, 5th Floor, Embassies Street, Bir Hasan, Lebanon Address 4: Dallas Center, Saida Old Street, Chiah, Baabda, Lebanon Occupation: President & Chief Executive Officer, Stars Group Holding Individual 2:** ISSAM MOHAMAD AMHAZ** AKA: Issam Mohamed Amhaz AKA: ‘Isam Amhaz DOB: 04 March 1967 POB: Baalbek, Lebanon Nationality: Lebanon Passport: RL0000199, Lebanon ID No: 61 Nabha Address 1: Ghadir, 5th Floor, Safarat, Bir Hassan, Jenah, Lebanon Address 2: Issam Mohamad Amhaz Property, Ambassades (Safarate), Bir Hassan Area, Ghobeiri (Baabda), Lebanon Occupation: Chairman, Stars Group Holding Occupation: General Manager, Teleserve Plus Sal Individual 3:** AYMAN IBRAHIM** AKA: Ayman Ahmad Ibrahim DOB: 01 April 1979 POB: ‘Adlun, Lebanon Occupation: General Manager, Unique Stars Mobile Phones LLC Individual 4:** ALI ZEAITER** AKA: Ali Zoeiter AKA: ‘Ali Zu’aytar AKA: Ali Husayn Zu’aytir DOB: 24 February 1977 Nationality: Lebanon Passport 1: RL1924321, Lebanon Passport 2: RL0877465, Lebanon Address 1: No. 351 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China Address 2: Room 2203A, Grand Tower, No. 228 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China Address 3: Room 2203A, Guangcheng Building, No. 228 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, China Address 4: 204 No. 253 Tianhebei Road, Guangzhou, China Occupation: General Manager, Stars International Ltd. Individual 5:** HANNA ELIAS KHALIFEH** AKA: Hanna Khalifah AKA: Hanna Khalife DOB: 09 July 1955 Nationality: Lebanon Passport: RL2033216, Lebanon Address 1: Midan Street, Mazraat Yachouh, Metn, Lebanon Address 2: Asaad Karam Building, Midan Street, Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon Parent Company:** STARS GROUP HOLDING** AKA: Stars Group Sal (Holding) AKA: Stars Group Holding SAL Registration/File Number: 1901453, Beirut, Lebanon Registered Office: Property Number 5208/62, Issam Mohamed Amha, 6th Floor, Dallas Center, Old Saida Road, C, Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Number: 317211 Mailing Address: Postal Box 13-5483, Lebanon Address 1: Bdeir Building, Snoubra Street, Bir El-Abed Area, Haret Hreik, Baabda, Lebanon Address 2: Bir El Abed, Hadi Nasrallah Highway, Middle East & Africa Bank Building, First Floor, Beirut, Lebanon Address 3: Old Saida Road, Dallas Center, 6th Floor, Beirut, Lebanon Webpage URL: www.starscom.net Subsidiary 1:** UNIQUE STARS MOBILE PHONES LLC** AKA: Unique Stars LLC Registration/ File Number: 591610, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Chamber of Commerce Number: 116340 Registered Office: Postal Box 98498, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Mailing Address: Postal Box 98498, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Location 1: Al Maktoum Road, Deira, Al Kabira Building, First Floor, Office #103, PO Box 98498, Dubai, UAE Location 2: Office 103, 1st Floor, Sheikh Rashed Building, Al Maktoum Road, Deira, DXB Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Location 3: Gargash Center, Nasser Square, Shop No. 41, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Subsidiary 2:** STARS INTERNATIONAL LTD** AKA: Stars International Co. Ltd Location 1: Room 2203A, Grand Tower, No. 228 TianHe Road, TianHe District, Guangzhou P.R., China Location 2: F-18, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Subsidiary 3:** STARS COMMUNICATIONS LTD** AKA: Stars Communications Ltd Sarl AKA: Stars Communications LLC AKA: Stars Communications Registration Number: 2001929, Baabda Location 1: Hadi Nasrallah Av, MEAB Building, 1st Floor, Beirut, Lebanon Location 2: Bir el Abed, Snoubra Street, Haret Hreyk, Beirut, Lebanon Location 3: Tayyouneh, Haret Hreyk, Beirut, Lebanon Location 4: Port, Nahr, Beirut, Lebanon Location 5: Ras El Ain, Baalbeck, Lebanon Location 6: Hadeth, Lebanon Location 7: Nabatiyeh, Lebanon Location 8: Old Saida Road, Beirut Mall, Beirut, Lebanon Location 9: Duty-Free Airport, Rafik Hariri International Airport, Beirut, Lebanon Location 10: Sharl Helo Street, Beirut Seaport, Lebanon Location 11: Kamil Shamoun Street, Dekwaneh, Beirut, Lebanon Location 12: Hermel, Lebanon Subsidiary 4:** TELESERVE PLUS SAL** AKA: Teleserveplus Registration/ File Number: 2004609, Baabda, Lebanon Registered Office: 4th Floor, Dalas Center, Old Saida Road, Chiyah (Baabda), Lebanon Mailing Address: Postal Box 13-5483, Lebanon Address 1: 6th Floor, Dallas Center, Old Saida Avenue, Beirut, Lebanon Address 2: 6th Floor, Dallas Center, Old Saida Road, Chiyah, Baabda, Lebanon Webpage: www.teleserveplus.com Subsidiary 5:** STARS COMMUNICATIONS OFFSHORE SAL** AKA: Stars Communications Offshore AKA: Stars Communication Sal Off-Shore AKA: Stars Offshore Registration Number: 1801374, Baabda Location 1 : Hojeij Building, 2nd Floor, Zaghloul Street, Haret Hreik, Baabda, Lebanon Location 2 : Bdeir Building, Ground Floor, Snoubra Street, Ghobeiry, Baabda, Lebanon Location 3: Hadi Nasrallah Av, MEAB Building, 1st Floor, Beirut, Lebanon Subsidiary 6:** FASTLINK SARL** AKA: Fast Link SAL Location 1: Hadi Nasrallah Av, MEAB Building, 1st Floor, Beirut, Lebanon Location 2: Cendrella Street, Dalas Center, Chyah, Baabda, Lebanon Location 3: Dallas, 6th Floor, Saida Old Road, Chiyah, Beirut, Lebanon
