India, May 22 -- Lebanon's fragile political order came under renewed international pressure on Thursday after the US Treasury Department announced sweeping sanctions against nine individuals accused of maintaining and expanding the influence of Hezbollah within the country's political, military, and security institutions. The move signals Washington's latest attempt to weaken the Iran-backed movement at a time when tensions across the Middle East remain dangerously high.

The sanctions package, unveiled by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), targeted several senior Lebanese officials and political figures allegedly tied to Hezbollah and its allied networks. Among those sanctioned were Iran's designated ambassador to Lebanon, Moh...