Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanon's armed Shi'ite movement Hezbollah, said on Monday that a first ship carrying Iranian fuel oil to help Lebanon through its financial crisis had docked in Syria on Sunday.

Nasrallah had announced last month that he had organized purchases of fuel from Iran, Hezbollah's main backer but subject to U.S. economic sanctions, to ease a crippling shortage.

Nasrallah thanked Syria for receiving the shipment and facilitating its transfer and said it would reach Lebanon by Thursday.

The Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite terrorist group Hezbollah had announced last month it was bringing fuel from Iran to ease Lebanon's worsening shortages.