US Troops Sue Tobacco Giant Over Alleged North Korea Ties

Hundreds of US service members, civilians, and their families have filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against British American Tobacco (BAT), one of the world’s largest tobacco companies.

The suit alleges that for years, BAT operated a secret joint venture in North Korea that funneled approximately $418 million to the regime, money that was then used to fund weapons programs for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.

These weapons were allegedly used in attacks on US bases in Iraq and Kurdistan in 2020 and 2022, causing traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and deaths among American personnel.

The lawsuit seeks compensation under anti-terrorism laws, arguing BAT knowingly provided material support for terrorism, even after the company paid a $629 million fine in 2023 for related sanctions violations.

This case tests the legal boundaries of holding corporations accountable for indirectly enabling acts of terror that harm Americans.