The United States has issued sanctions related to Lebanon targeting former Governor of the Central Bank Riad Salameh and four others close to him, stating that "corrupt and illegal actions contributed to the collapse of the rule of law in Lebanon."

The U.S. Treasury Department stated today, Thursday, that the sanctions also included individuals from Salameh's family and those close to him.

The Treasury's statement added, "Salameh abused his position of power in a manner that likely violates Lebanese law to enrich himself and his associates by transferring hundreds of millions of dollars through fictitious shell companies to invest in real estate in Europe."

The long-serving governor, whose term ended at the end of July, faces allegations in Lebanon, France, and Germany of embezzling large sums of public funds in Lebanon, and Salameh has stated that his lawyers have filed legal objections in both France and Germany.