U.S. Sanctions 'Courier Network' for Alleged Hezbollah Cash Smuggling
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions against ten individuals accused of being part of a 'courier network' that facilitated the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah. This network allegedly operates between Lebanon, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran, moving cash outside formal financial systems to help Hezbollah acquire foreign currency and evade sanctions. Turkish businessman Yunus Alper Yilmaz is identified as the network's manager, reportedly using Turkey-based exchange houses as fronts and providing companies and bank accounts for money transfers linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. Couriers are said to collect cash from these exchange houses and transport it covertly on commercial flights, including to Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based. Among the sanctioned individuals is Onder Dede, along with Halil Ibrahim Kacmaz, Vasfi Akyuz, Mehmet Akyuz, Mehmet Acur, Feyyad Karasalih, Masoud Mousafar, Gulay Kaya Savci, and Emrah Ayaz. The... 
