U.S. authorities have charged a man living in New York with relaying programs from Hezbollah television station al-Manar, deemed a global terrorist entity by the U.S. Treasury Department.
Federal prosecutors say Javed Iqbal, also known as John Iqbal, was relaying the Hezbollah-operated station to customers in New York. Al-Manar is seen as a mouthpiece for the Lebanese Shi'ite group. U.S. law forbids conducting business with any terror group.
Iqbal faces five years in jail if he is convicted of the charges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Hezbollah went to war with Israel last month after attacking an Israeli outpost and capturing two of its soldiers. Al-Manar headquarters in southern Lebanon have been destroyed in the conflict, but the station remains on the air.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
