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Hezbollah announces arrival of second Iranian fuel delivery

The shipment could help Lebanon grapple with its worsening fuel crisis and also again defies US sanctions on Iran.

Iranian tanker arrives in Lebanon
People raise an Iranian flag as they gather to welcome tankers carrying Iranian fuel, upon their arrival from Syria in the city of Baalbeck, in Lebanon's Bekaa valley, on Sept. 16, 2021. — AFP via Getty Images

Hezbollah announced Friday that a second Iranian ship carrying fuel destined for Lebanon has reached its shore.

The vessel arrived to Syria’s Mediterranean port in Baniyas at 10:00 p.m. Thursday night, the Hezollah-affiliated Al Manar news outlet reported.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced in August that Iran would be sending fuel to Lebanon. A convoy of 80 trucks brought the first shipment to Lebanon from Syria. The second batch of fuel will presumably be delivered from Baniyas the same way.

Lebanon is suffering from a major fuel crisis at present. Residents spend hours at gas stations for a chance to fill up part of their tanks. The government was subsidizing fuel but ended the subsidies on Wednesday, effectively raising the price of fuel. The fuel shortage is compounding Lebanon’s wider economic and energy crisis. Public electricity is only available a few hours of the day at best, and people depend on fuel to power generators.

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