The United States today announced sanctions on five individuals and seven entities in Iran, China, and Hong Kong for their involvement in supplying spare parts for Iranian-made drones used in conflict in the Middle East.

The US Treasury Department explained in a statement that “Iran's acquisition of critical missile and drone components continues to enable the spread of its weapons systems to its proxies in the Middle East and Russia.”

“Iran’s reckless proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles threatens to further destabilize and threaten civilians, both in the region and around the world,” said Brian Nelson, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, denouncing “the front companies and trusted proxies through which Iran has sought to infiltrate Iran to obtain these components.”

For months, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement has used “drones” to attack Israeli military positions, usually close to the border, but sometimes deeper inside Israel.

Hezbollah, which is funded and armed by Tehran, has also announced three times that it has sent reconnaissance drones to photograph sensitive Israeli targets, including the Ramat David air base in central Israel, on July 23.