US Issues Joint Sanctions Targeting Terrorism Finance Network
The U.S. and Qatar announced joint sanctions against a “major” Hezbollah financial network based in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes seven people and one entity, the Treasury Department said Sept. 29. Treasury designated Ali Reda Hassan al-Banai, Ali Reda al-Qassabi Lari, Abd al-Muayyid al-Banai, Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Nabi Shams, Yahya Muhammad al-Abd-al-Muhsin, Majdi Fa’iz al-Ustadz and Sulaiman al-Banai as Specially Designated Global Terrorists for supporting Hezbollah and terrorism. The agency also sanctioned Qatar-based Aldar Properties, which is controlled by Sulaiman al-Banai.
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Andrea Gacki, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, said the U.S. partnered with Qatar on these designations because of the “cross-border nature of this Hizballah financial network.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the announcement “one of the most significant joint actions we have taken with a Gulf Cooperation Council partner to date,” adding that it underscores the U.S.’s commitment to “extensive bilateral cooperation” on countering terrorism. The agency also said the Bahrain government has frozen some bank accounts related to these sanctions and referred three of the designated people to its prosecutor's office. “The United States will continue to cooperate with partners, such as the Government of Qatar, to protect the U.S. and international financial systems from terrorist abuse,” Blinken said.