Washington – The United States is taking strong action to cripple the efforts of the Islamic State (IS) terror group in expanding its virtual caliphate. On Tuesday, the U.S. announced sanctions against two Egyptian nationals for providing cybersecurity training to IS leaders, enabling them to use cryptocurrencies to fund their operations and recruit new members.
The two individuals, Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim and Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid, are accused of creating an online platform called the Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF), which is affiliated with IS. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Al-Mawji has been providing technical support to IS leaders, while also using the platform to help supporters evade law enforcement and raise funds. Al-Sayyid is accused of recruiting new members for the EHF and providing the necessary web servers to keep the platform running.
In a statement, Treasury Department Undersecretary Brian Nelson said, “Today’s actions disrupt ISIS’s ability to move funds, including through the use of cryptocurrency, and leverage its online presence to recruit and promote its terrorist ideology.” The U.S. also imposed sanctions on Faruk Guzel, a financial facilitator based in Turkey who helped funnel money to IS operatives in Syria.
The State Department also released a statement, emphasizing the importance of these designations and sanctions in disrupting IS’s global financial networks. The U.S. is committed to working with over 80 countries as part of the Counter ISIS Finance Group to combat the terror group’s financial activities.
This move comes after IS launched a new campaign of violence titled “And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them,” which was followed by a double suicide bombing that killed nearly 90 people in Iran. The U.S. intelligence estimates reveal that IS leadership in Iraq and Syria currently has access to around $25 million in cash reserves, a significant decrease from the $300 million they had after the collapse of their physical caliphate in 2019.
According to a report from the Pentagon’s inspector general in November, the IS leadership in Iraq and Syria is struggling to meet their financial obligations, particularly payments to family members of deceased and imprisoned IS personnel. The report also states that IS leaders are only receiving sporadic payments, while fighters are not receiving their payments at all, indicating a shortage of funds.
These actions by the U.S. demonstrate their commitment to disrupt and dismantle IS’s financial networks, which are crucial for their survival and expansion. It also shows the strong collaboration between the U.S. and other countries in the fight against terrorism.
The U.S. has been at the forefront of the fight against IS, and their efforts have significantly weakened the terror group. The collapse of their physical caliphate in 2019 was a major blow to IS, and since then, they have been struggling to regain their strength.
The U.S. has also been working closely with its allies to combat IS’s online presence, which has been a significant tool for recruitment and spreading their extremist ideology. By targeting the EHF, the U.S. is disrupting IS’s ability to reach new recruits and spread their propaganda.
The sanctions against the two Egyptian nationals and the financial facilitator in Turkey send a strong message to anyone who supports or aids IS. The U.S. will not tolerate any form of support to terrorist organizations and will take necessary actions to disrupt their operations.
The U.S. has been a leader in the fight against terrorism, and their efforts have been crucial in weakening IS. However, it is essential for all countries to work together and join forces to completely eradicate this threat. The U.S. has shown its commitment to this cause by working closely with other countries and taking necessary actions to disrupt IS’s financial networks.
In conclusion, the U.S. has taken another significant step towards eliminating the threat of IS by imposing sanctions on individuals who have been supporting the terror group. These actions demonstrate the U.S.’s commitment to disrupting IS’s operations and their determination to eradicate terrorism. The U.S. urges other countries to join forces and work together to defeat this global threat.
