Washington, D.C. – Congressmembers Tom Suozzi (D—NY-3) and Adam Kinzinger (R—IL-16) introduced on Wednesday the Disarm Hezbollah Act (HR 5540) a bipartisan bill that instructs the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to investigate Hezbollah, a group that has sown chaos across the Middle East and continues to terrorize vital American allies.
HR 5540 would require the Director of National Intelligence to produce an official National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Hezbollah’s capabilities, its arsenal, and the illicit supply routes it uses to procure weapons. This NIE would help assess the work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is meant to ensure that south Lebanon is free of militias. The estimate would also detail the ways Hezbollah raises and distributes funds in the territory under UNIFIL’s mandate.
“The UN Security Council demanded that Hezbollah disarm after the devastating 2006 Lebanon War that killed so many Israeli and Lebanese civilians,” Rep. Suozzi said. “They have not. Hezbollah continues to build up its military capabilities, with tens of thousands of advanced missiles that threaten our Middle East interests and allies, particularly Israel. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Mr. Kinzinger to improve our intelligence community’s understanding of a serious ongoing threat on the doorstep of one of America’s most vital allies.”
“For decades, Hezbollah has continued to present a clear and present danger to the United States and our allies, and despite sanctions on this terrorist organization, they continue to grow and sow chaos in the Middle East,” said Rep. Kinzinger. It’s time we address the capabilities, the arsenal, and the international operations of Hezbollah, and establish ways in which we can more effectively put stop to their procurement of dangerous weapons. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with my colleague, Rep. Suozzi, and look forward to working with the DNI in strengthening UNIFIL efforts to restore peace along the Lebanese border.”
