The U.S. Treasury Department slapped sanctions on three senior al Qaeda operatives Wednesday, two of whom are said to be living in Iran.
Faisal Jassim Mohammed Al-Amri Al-Khalidi, Yisra Muhammad Ibrahim Bayumi, and Abu Bakr Muhammad Muhammad Ghumayn were labeled “specially designated global terrorists” after an investigation revealed the men provided support to al Qaeda.
“Today’s action sanctions senior al Qaeda operatives responsible for moving money and weapons across the Middle East,” said Adam Szubin, acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. “Treasury remains committed to targeting al Qaeda’s terrorist activity and denying al Qaeda and its critical support networks access to the international financial system.”
The sanction blocks any property subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits any U.S. person from engaging with the dangerous men.
Al-Khalidi is a senior al Qaeda official accused of conducting weapons acquisition, commanding a battalion, and acting as a liaison between al Qaeda and the U.S.-labeled terrorist group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan.
Bayumi and Ghumayn also have been acting on behalf of al Qaeda, but from the safe haven of Iran.
Bayumi has lived in Iran since 2014 and became a member of al Qaeda in 2006. He reportedly freed al Qaeda members from Iran, served as a mediator with Iran, and most recently gathered funds from Syria for al Qaeda members.
Ghumayn served as a senior al Qaeda leader in financial, communications and logistical roles for the terrorist group. Before traveling to Iran, Ghumayn lived in Pakistan, where he was a senior intelligence and an al Qaeda security leader in 2014.
