US war on free media continues: 13 Lebanese resistance web domains seized

The United States has announced it seized 13 web domains run by the popular Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, in an outrageous new attack against the foreign media.

The US Justice Department claimed on Thursday the web domains were operated by sanctioned individuals and groups.

The domains blocked by Washington included the personal site of Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem, the main site of the Islamic Resistance Support Association, which is a charity used to raise funds and pay for the services it offers in Lebanon, and sites owned by the resistance movement’s Al-Manar TV.

According to court records, the United States obtained authorization to seize domains including manartv.net, manarnews.net, and naimkassem.net.

Anyone attempting to access the domains is now met with a message that reads, "This website has been seized,” bearing the daunting logos of the US FBI and Department of Commerce.

The sites were registered with two America-based groups, Public Internet Registry and Verisign Inc., according to the Justice Department.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said in a statement said that today's web domain seizures by the Justice Department deny these “organizations and affiliates significant sources of support and makes clear we will not allow these groups to use US infrastructure to threaten the American people.”

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'Press TV, others targeted for their independence, alternative line'

In recent years, the United States has launched outrageous attacks on the press and foreign media during which dozens of news outlets, including Press TV, had their.com domains seized and were taken offline.

According to analysts, the pro-Israel lobby groups in the US have been attempting to silence independent global news networks over their coverage of Israeli crimes against Palestinians.  

In 2021, the US government seized the websites of several news broadcasters and media outlets belonging to Iran and its allies in one fell swoop.

The websites targeted included Palestine Today, as well as Iran's Al-Alam, which is an Arabic language broadcaster, they included Iraq's Al Thurat and Yemen's Al Masirah, just to name a few of the dozens of outlets seized by the US.

The targeted websites form part of the Axis of Resistance and go against the US narrative, which is why they were targeted.

'Pro-Israel lobby groups ride anti-semitism bogey to silence free media'

The pro-Israel lobby groups in the West have over the years made desperate attempts to “silence and tame” independent global news networks over their coverage of Israeli crimes against Palestinians, says an analyst.

The United States has imposed countless rounds of sanctions on Hezbollah.

Since its establishment in 1982, Hezbollah has been engaged in a determined struggle aimed at protecting Lebanon against plots that are hatched by the United States and the Israeli regime, which the resistance group considers to be behind almost all instances of instability and deadly violence in the region.

Hezbollah fought two major wars imposed by the Israeli regime on Lebanon in the 2000s, forcing Tel Aviv, which is Washington's most-treasured regional ally, into a humiliating retreat on both occasions. 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk