Designation of Fatah al-Islam under Executive Order 13224

As part of ongoing U.S. efforts against terrorism, on August 9, Secretary Rice designated Fatah al-Islam as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended. The Secretary took this action in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury. This designation cuts off Fatah al-Islam from the U.S. financial system. As a result of this designation, all property, and interests in property which Fatah al-Islam has in the U.S., or which enters the U.S. or comes under the control of U.S. persons, are blocked. This designation will be published in the Federal Register shortly.

Fatah al-Islam, an offshoot of the Syria-backed secular Palestinian terrorist group Fatah al-Intifada, has been led by Shakir al-Absi, a well-known Palestinian-Jordanian militant who was sentenced to death in absentia in Jordan for his involvement in the 2002 murder of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley. Moreover, Fatah al-Islam initiated the recent hostilities in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli, Lebanon, with an unprovoked attack on Lebanese security forces in May, and used civilian refugees as human shields during the fighting. Over 130 Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers and civilians have lost their lives in the conflict at Nahr al-Barid. This terrorist group threatens the safety and security of the Lebanese people and the region.