Third Iranian fuel shipment bound for Lebanon arrives in Syria's Baniyas

A third Iranian tanker loaded with fuel for Lebanon reached the Syrian port of Baniyas on Wednesday according to the Tanker Trackers oil service

The shipment is unable to load off the coast of Lebanon due to US sanctions on Iran, so the oil it is carrying will be taken to Lebanese territory via fuel trucks.

FORTUNE (9283746) is the 3rd tanker to have reached Baniyas, Syria with gasoil for Hezb’Allah’s distribution in Lebanon. Also, in addition to Iranian crude oil, Baniyas has received a larger-than-usual delivery of Russian fuel. What’s unique is that it wasn’t for navy in Tartus.

— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) October 6, 2021

Iran-backed Hezbollah says the fuel shipments will ease a crippling energy crisis Lebanon has been facing for months.

The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, first announced in August that his group struck a deal with Tehran to import diesel and fuel oil.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said last month that the Iranian shipments constitute a breach of Lebanon's sovereignty and was “saddened” that this happened.

However, Hezbollah has continued to facilitate the entry of the tankers without authorisation by the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah-owned petroleum corporation Al-Amana had announced that it would sell Iranian fuel oil at reduced prices until the end of September.

Al-Amana has been sanctioned by the US government, while Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation by Washington.