US designates ISIS leaders, financial facilitators in Maldives
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On July 31, The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated key leaders and financial facilitators of ISIS and al-Qaeda in Maldives.
The designation included 20 operatives, 29 associated companies, and leaders who have planned or carried out attacks on local authorities and journalists, in addition to individuals and a company associated with key ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) recruiter Mohamad Ameen who was designated by the United States in 2019.
The ISIS-K is an affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS) that is active in South Asia and Central Asia, mainly in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It was created in January 2015 by disaffected Taliban in eastern Afghanistan.
“Treasury’s actions today against ISIS and al-Qa’ida operatives and facilitators continue our efforts to help prevent and disrupt financial and other support for terrorist attacks globally,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson in a press release.
The US has blocked property and interests of designated persons, including entities owned by them, while prohibiting transactions and contributions to/from them, the OFAC statement noted.
Those engaging in transactions may face sanctions or enforcement action, including financial institutions. Prohibitions apply to contributions or provision of funds, goods, or services to/from designated persons, according to the OFAC statement.
“The United States is committed to denying funding and resources to these terrorist support networks and countering the threats they pose both locally and internationally”, Under Secretary noted.