Biden administration sanctions Iran-aligned terrorists for continued attacks on US bases in Syria/Iraq

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Amid growing concern that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war could spread across the Middle East, the United States on Friday sanctioned Iran-aligned terror groups for carrying out continued attacks on US bases in Syria and Iraq, Reuters reports.

In order to advise and help local forces resist the resurgence of Islamic State in the region, the US has 900 troops in Syria, and 2,500 in neighboring Iraq.

A further three attacks carried out on Friday brought the total number of strikes against US forces in Syria and Iraq to at least 58 since Oct. 17, Reuters said. Some 59 military personnel have been wounded in the attacks, although have returned to duty.

On Friday the US State Department designated Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada and its secretary general as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, and the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on six people affiliated with Kata’ib Hizballah in Iraq, Reuters reports.

The sanctions freeze the US assets of all those targeted and generally ban Americans from doing business with them, Reuters said. Any individual or company that carries out certain transactions with those targeted could be sanctioned themselves.

“Today’s action sends a message to Kata’ib Hizballah and all other Iran-backed groups that the United States will use all available measures to hold to account any opportunistic actors who seek to exploit the situation in Gaza for their own ends,” the Treasury Department’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement.

Latest Worthy News