There is no broad UN Security Council sanctions regime targeting Lebanon as a state. Instead, Lebanon is connected to UN sanctions through several targeted measures linked to specific conflicts and investigations.
The most prominent is the arms embargo and related measures under Resolution 1701 (2006), which ended the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah war. Paragraph 15 of UNSCR 1701 prohibits the sale or supply of arms to any entity or individual in Lebanon except those authorised by the Lebanese government or UNIFIL. This is monitored by UNIFIL and reported on periodically by the Secretary-General, but it is not administered by a dedicated 1267-style sanctions committee.
A separate strand stems from the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. Resolution 1636 (2005) created a sanctions framework — including asset freezes and travel bans — against individuals identified by the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) as suspects, and established a committee to administer it. The work later transitioned to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), established by Resolution 1757 (2007), which in 2020 convicted Salim Ayyash, a Hezbollah member, in absentia.
Lebanese nationals and entities also appear on other UN sanctions lists, notably the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List (1267/1989/2253 regime) and the Syria-related listings, though there is no Lebanon-specific list of designated persons comparable to the DPRK or Iran regimes.
Beyond the UN, Lebanon is subject to extensive unilateral sanctions by the United States (especially under the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 and Executive Order 13224), the United Kingdom, and from 2021 an EU framework (Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1277) allowing asset freezes on individuals undermining democracy or the rule of law in Lebanon. Delegates should be careful to distinguish these autonomous regimes from UN-mandated measures, since only the latter create binding obligations on all member states under Article 25 of the Charter.
Example
In August 2006, UNSCR 1701 imposed an arms embargo barring weapons transfers to any party in Lebanon other than those authorised by the Lebanese government, a measure UNIFIL continues to monitor along the Blue Line.
Frequently asked questions
No. There is no comprehensive UNSC sanctions regime against Lebanon as a state; measures are targeted, mainly the 1701 arms embargo and Hariri-related listings.
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